CAR FIRMS BLASTED BY AMNESTY OVER MINING

Report criticises EV makers for how they manage supply chain risks

- JAMES GORDON

The world's largest electric car manufacturers are neglecting human rights by not addressing supply chain risk, according to Amnesty International.

The not-for-profit organisation's findings, published as part of a 102page report, say a failure by car makers to tackle risk in their mineral supply chains has potentially left communities living closest to mines, where cobalt, lithium, nickel and copper are extracted, "exposed to exploitation, health risks and environment harm".

As part of the study, Amnesty International evaluated the human rights due diligence policies of 13 EV makers. It issued each one with a scorecard, which ranked them on their "human rights policies, risk identification process, supply chain mapping and reporting and mediation", marking them on a scale from one (worst) to 90 (best).

The top mark, which Amnesty International awarded to MercedesBenz, was 51. Tesla scored 49 and Stellantis amassed 42 points. The Volkswagen Group, BMW and Ford were all awarded 41 marks.