Volkswagen has sold its plant in Xinjiang, a region in northwestern China beset by accusations of human rights abuses, citing “economic reasons.”

Earlier this year, the U.S. blocked imports of several Porsche, Bentley, and Audi vehicles amid concerns that they contained a Chinese-made part that violated U.S. forced labor laws.

Volkswagen has faced major criticism from activists and investors over its interest in the Xinjiang factory which it first opened in 2013

VW and its local partner sold a production site in the Xinjiang region that had previously brought increased scrutiny on the automaker over human-rights concerns.

German carmaker Volkswagen is withdrawing from its controversial involvement in a factory in China's Xinjiang province, which has attracted criticism over alleged human-rights abuses of the Uighur minority.

Volkswagen and SAIC Motor say they have agreed to extend their 40-year-old automaking joint venture in China until 2040.

Germany's Volkswagen Group and its Chinese partner have sold a factory in the Xinjiang region of China, where accusations of forced labor dogged the facility for many years.

Volkswagen's (VW) sale of a controversial plant in China will come as a relief to the German carmaker, as it rationalises its flagging operation amid cutthroat competition in the world's largest automotive market,

German car giant Volkswagen said Wednesday it would sell its operations in China's Xinjiang region, where Beijing has been accused of widespread human rights abuses including forced labour.

VW sells assets to address political risks and cut excess capacity, while extending its partnership with to regain market share in China Volkswagen's (VW) sale of a controversial plant in China will come as a relief to the German carmaker,