The automaker has long been criticized by human rights activists for doing business in the territory, where China has repressed Muslim ethnic groups.

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 sold a car plant in China’s Xinjiang province that has drawn scrutiny over alleged human-rights abuses.The Urumqi site, which is owned by a joint venture between VW and local partner SAIC Motor,