Germany's Volkswagen Group and its Chinese partner have sold a factory in the Xinjiang region of China, where accusations of forced labor dogged the facility for many years.

Volkswagen and SAIC Motor say they have agreed to extend their 40-year-old automaking joint venture in China until 2040.

Volkswagen has sold its plant in Xinjiang, a region in northwestern China beset by accusations of human rights abuses, citing “economic reasons.” “There is no business case for (the plant),” said a spokesperson,