Volkswagen and its joint venture partner in China sold a plant in the country that has previously brought increased scrutiny on the auto makers over human-rights concerns.VW and partner SAIC Motor have a joint company that operates a handful of production sites in China.

Bangkok — Volkswagen AG and Shanghai's SAIC Motor have agreed to sell a factory in China's far western Xinjiang region that drew criticism due to accusations by western governments of human rights violations.

German carmaker Volkswagen is withdrawing from its controversial involvement in a factory in China's Xinjiang province, which has attracted criticism over alleged human-rights abuses of the Uighur minority.