A new report by Amnesty International has attempted to rank human rights in the electric vehicle (EV) industry.

It reveals that some of the world’s biggest EV manufacturers, including BYD, Mitsubishi, and Hyundai, are failing to address human rights risks in their mineral supply chains adequately.

The report highlights the exploitation, environmental harm, and health risks faced by communities impacted by the mining of metals crucial for EV batteries.

Plugging into problems

Titled Recharge for Rights: Ranking the Human Rights Due Diligence Reporting of Leading Electric Vehicle Makers’, this report evaluated 13 major EV manufacturers based on criteria set by international human rights standards.

The manufacturers were graded on aspects such as human rights policies, supply chain transparency, risk identification, and remediation efforts.

These results raise several concerns, as none of the companies achieved a score above 51 out of 90.

At the bottom of the list was Chinese automaker BYD, which scored a stark 11/90.

Turning a blind eye

The findings underline the growing gap between the rapidly increasing demand for EVs and the lack of adequate measures some manufacturers take to ensure that human rights are respected within their supply chains.

“The human rights abuses linked to the extraction of minerals for energy transition technologies are widespread and deeply troubling,” said Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International.

“The industry’s response has been underwhelming at best. As demand for EVs grows, manufacturers must take urgent steps to ensure their supply chains are not contributing to forced evictions, health harms, and the violation of Indigenous rights.”

Out of sight

The report specifically points to communities in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Philippines, where minerals such as cobalt, nickel, and lithium—key ingredients in EV batteries—are extracted under dangerous and exploitative conditions.

Forced evictions, health risks from pollution, and violations of Indigenous peoples’ rights have become common in mining areas, especially as the global push for clean energy accelerates.

Amnesty’s scorecard assessed companies on several factors, including their commitment to human rights policies, their ability to identify and manage risks in supply chains, and the transparency of their reporting.

BYD scored the lowest, with Amnesty highlighting the company’s lack of transparency about its battery supply chain and the absence of detailed disclosures on its mining operations.

Hyundai and Mitsubishi also scored poorly, providing little meaningful information about how they are addressing human rights risks in their supply chains.

“While some companies have made progress, many of them are still far from meeting international standards,” Callamard added.

“The commitments they make often lack substance, and there is little evidence of meaningful action. Without robust transparency and due diligence processes, it is impossible to ensure that workers and communities aren’t suffering.”

Behind the marketing

Other major players in the EV industry, such as General Motors and Renault, also ranked lower in the report.

This shows that even companies that have made public commitments to human rights have significant work to do to implement them effectively.

The report criticized their failure to provide sufficient details on risk assessments and their lack of stakeholder engagement.

Amnesty also called out the lack of supply chain mapping, which makes it difficult for stakeholders to trace how raw materials are sourced.

Companies like BYD, Hyundai, and Mitsubishi failed to disclose information about their suppliers, smelters, and mine sites.

This lack of transparency raises concerns that these companies may be sourcing minerals mined under harmful conditions.

Give and take

While a shift to electric vehicles is crucial for addressing climate change, the human rights risks associated with mining for EV batteries present a serious challenge.

Amnesty has previously documented how the extraction of cobalt, a key material in EV batteries, has led to forced evictions in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

This underscores the urgent need for companies to use their purchasing power to demand better practices from their suppliers.

The report calls for greater accountability from automakers and urges them to implement comprehensive human rights due diligence systems in accordance with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

While some companies, including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Tesla, scored higher in the rankings, they, too, have more work to do to ensure their supply chains are free from human rights violations.

“As the global transition to electric vehicles gains momentum, it is critical that companies act to prevent human rights abuses,” said Callamard.

“Governments also have a role to play by strengthening regulation to ensure that companies are held accountable for the impacts of their operations. The EV industry must not become another example of profit-driven growth at the expense of vulnerable communities.”

The report concludes by calling on automakers to improve their human rights due diligence and for governments to enact stronger regulations to protect people in mining-affected regions. “It’s time to shift gears and ensure that the electric vehicle industry leads the way to a just energy future that respects human rights,” Callamard emphasized.