Thousands of Porsche, Bentley and Audi Cars Seized Under UFLPA

CBP has detained thousands of Porsche, Bentley and Audi cars in U.S. ports after a supplier to parent company Volkswagen found a "Chinese subcomponent" in the vehicles that violated the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, the Financial Times reported on Feb. 14. The delivery will be delayed until as late as the end of March, the paper said.

FT reported that people "with knowledge of the matter" said the part came from "Western China" but that VW wasn't aware of the origin of the part, which was "sourced by an indirect supplier," the publication said. VW also notified U.S. "authorities as soon as it was made aware of the part’s origin," it said.

In total, this affects 1,000 Porsche sports cars and SUVs, "several hundred" Bentleys, and "several thousand" Audi vehicles, FT said.

VW told FT it takes allegations of forced labor very seriously and that as soon as the carmaker received allegations of forced labor, it began "investigating the matter." VW will "clarify the facts and then take appropriate steps," which could include ending the relationship with the supplier, VW said, according to the report.

VW discovered in mid-January that parts in some of its cars "bound for the U.S." weren't compliant with "US customs rules," FT said. The carmaker has ordered replacement electronic modules and has begun fixing the cars with the approval of CBP, the publication said.

The company didn't say whether it would completely withdraw from the region. Cutting ties with the region "would not be possible" until VW's current contracts expire in 2029, the sources told FT. Volkswagen said Feb. 14 it would discuss "the future direction of business" with its manufacturers, FT reported.

A German newspaper the same day reported that it had evidence that forced labor was used in the construction of a VW test track in Xinjiang.

In April 2022, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., questioned Volkswagen about its joint ventures with Chinese companies and its factory in the capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in Urumqi (see 2204280026). In November 2023, forced labor researchers said enforcement may increase for auto parts that fall under the UFLPA (see 2311200038).

VW and CBP didn't respond to our request for comment.