The international human rights group assessed 13 leading automobile manufacturers for transparency in demonstrating whether their supply chains for metals like cobalt and nickel adhered to global rights standards.
Amnesty International has criticised major electric car manufacturers for not adequately demonstrating their commitment to protecting workers and communities from exploitation and environmental damage in the production of metals used in their batteries. On Tuesday, the global human rights organisation evaluated 13 leading car manufacturers on their transparency regarding whether their metal supply chains, which include cobalt and nickel, comply with international rights standards.
Amnesty’s Secretary General, Agnes Callamard, expressed concerns about the significant increase in demand for these metals, which are essential for electric vehicle batteries. She highlighted that this demand is exerting considerable pressure on communities affected by mining. Callamard pointed out the alarming and widespread human rights abuses associated with the extraction of minerals critical for energy transition, criticising the industry’s inadequate response.
The organisation urged car manufacturers to address risks in their supply chains, including forced evictions, environmental pollution, disruption of water access, and violations of the rights of Indigenous peoples. While noting some progress in the sector since its initial report in 2017, Amnesty stated that there is still a substantial amount of work needed.
In its evaluation, German carmaker Mercedes-Benz received the highest rating, followed by the U.S. electric car specialist Tesla. On the other hand, Chinese company BYD, along with Mitsubishi Motors and Hyundai, were rated the lowest.
Callamard remarked that the commitments reported by these companies are often ambiguous and show little proof of effective action. In September 2023, Amnesty accused multinational corporations of evicting and intimidating residents near cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo and documented human rights abuses against Indigenous populations related to nickel mining in the Philippines.
Furthermore, Callamard has called on governments to enhance the regulation of corporate human rights efforts to ensure better compliance and protection.
