VW is in talks with its joint venture partner SAIC about whether to conduct an independent audit of its plant in Xinjiang, China, the automaker said.
The comment comes after German business Handelsblatt reported that preparations for an audit were already underway. VW declined to confirm this.
It was in “good discussions” on the topic, a spokesperson said, including with SAIC.
VW investors are placing pressure on the automaker to carry out an audit of its plant in Xinjiang, a region where rights groups have documented human rights abuses including mass forced labor.
China has denied that human rights abuses take place in the region.
The automaker is holding a capital markets day on Wednesday, where investors expect the subject to be discussed.
