BYD would be the car brand with the least respect for human rights
BYD is ranked as the manufacturer with the least respect for human rights. © BYD
In addition to the central point of ecological criteria for the production of electric vehicles, respect for human rights must not be put aside. The extraction of cobalt by children, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (25% of global exports of this ore), is often singled out by opponents of electric cars and cleaning up all supply chains is a a crucial issue, first from a human point of view and then from an ecological point of view, in order to help the adoption of the technology.
Unfortunately, manufacturers don't seem to care too much, as demonstrated by Amnesty International's recent Recharge for Rights study, which ranked 13 automakers based on how they manage human rights risks in their mineral supply chains.
BYD dead last
Amnesty International assesses the quality and detail of information provided by companies based on public information and documents provided by companies on their websites, including their most recent sustainability reports.
Before releasing its report, the organization contacted each of the companies to allow them to comment on the findings. All responded except BYD, Hyundai and Mitsubishi.
BYD comes at the bottom of the pack with a score of just 11 points out of 90, closely followed by Mitsubishi with 13 points.
Hyundai (21), Geely and Nissan (22 each) are poor performers, but Tesla (49) and Mercedes (51) are doing much better. However, Mercedes' score is not enough to satisfy Amnesty investigators, who believe that a total of at least 68 points demonstrates an adequate commitment to human rights.
| Builder | Score out of 90 |
|---|---|
| Mercedes | 51 |
| Tesla | 49 |
| Stellantis | 42 |
| Volkswagen | 41 |
| BMW | 41 |
| Ford | 41 |
| General Motors | 32 |
| Renault | 27 |
| Nissan | 22 |
| Geely | 22 |
| Hyundai | 21 |
| Mitsubishi | 13 |
| BYD | 11 |
Note the French disappointment with Renault, which only obtains 27. The manufacturer prides itself on using engines without rare earths (slightly less efficient), but does not seem to pay sufficient attention to the (numerous) raw materials used in their batteries. .
BYD, the world's second-largest EV producer, has been criticized for refusing to reveal the name of the smelter, refinery and mine that supplies it with its minerals, but Geely, Hyundai, Mitsubishi and GM have all failed to do so. transparency. In contrast, the highest-rated brands were able to provide a map of their supply chain.
Many manufacturers are trying to reduce the amount of cobalt in their batteries, unfortunately this is not the only problem. © Panasonic
Ecology must not come at the expense of human rights
The less intransigent we are on the origin of raw materials, the lower the prices displayed can be while allowing better profits for the most unscrupulous manufacturers, a vicious circle, the cost of which is paid by the workers in the supply chains, who intends to denounce Amnesty International.
As the global transition to electric vehicles gains momentum, driving global competition and enabling huge profits, Amnesty International is calling on all automakers to improve and implement their human rights due diligence efforts. compliance with international human rights standards
Europe has voted to require a battery passport for EVs, already implemented by Volvo, and manufacturers must increasingly prove the origin of the minerals in their batteries to qualify for government aid (in France and elsewhere).
It provides for the establishment of heavy fines in certain countries or restrictions on market access for companies; the directive on due diligence in matters of corporate sustainability, which entered into force in Europe this summer; market access, for companies that do not respect the rules governing the well-being of the supply chain.
