Volkswagen has sold its plant in Xinjiang, a region in northwestern China beset by accusations of human rights abuses, citing “economic reasons.” “There is no business case for (the plant),” said a spokesperson,

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.

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