Hyundai Motor Co. said it’s unaware of any evidence of child labor being used at its Alabama parts subsidiary.
Smart Alabama LLC, a wholly owned unit of the Korean automaker, employed immigrant workers as young as 12, Reuters reported Friday, citing family members of three underage workers, police, and former and current employees of the factory.
Hyundai “is unaware of any evidence of the allegations,” spokeswoman Dana White said.
The Smart facility supplies parts to Hyundai’s assembly plant in Montgomery, Alabama, which produces the Santa Fe and Tucson compact SUVs and Elantra sedan.
Smart denied it “knowingly employed” anyone ineligible