Car companies comment on possible labor rights violations at Linglong's Serbian plant
Last year, the media reported that due to labor rights violations at the Linglong plant in Serbia, the company MAN had refused to purchase products from the plant, and Volkswagen (the parent company of the truck manufacturer) intended to take the same step. Linglong later issued an official statement denying the allegations, and recently, various automakers commented on the situation.
In Nissan, they stated that they "cannot confirm whether the company's production department purchases tires manufactured at the Linglong plant in Serbia" and emphasized that they strive to always strictly comply with laws in all regions of their presence, ensuring transparency of supply chains and using ethical and socially responsible business practices.
In Stellantis, they confirmed that they cooperate with Linglong and noted that the Chinese company has signed an agreement to follow the Global Responsible Sourcing Principles and has committed to respecting human rights. The automaker added that they always require their suppliers to adhere to "the highest standards of ethical behavior".
Hyundai reported that it has no business ties with Linglong. The automaker's statement also says that the company identifies potential risks through comprehensive audits of supply chains to ensure that all partners meet the requirements for protecting human rights and the environment.
In Ford, they stated that they have business relations with Linglong, and according to the preliminary results of a recent audit conducted as part of the Responsible Supply Chain Initiative (RSCI), no issues were found at the Serbian tire plant.
Finally, in Audi, they noted that they did not purchase tires from the Linglong plant in Serbia and added that they usually do not comment on information about individual suppliers and contract details.
The 800 million euro Linglong plant in Zrenjanin, Serbia, launched mass production in September 2024, with an initial capacity of around 14 million tires per year. Founded in 1975, Linglong became the first Chinese tire company to localize production in Europe.