Business · Companies · 1 day ago
Chinese car-lighting company faces backlash over dismissals of 107 graduates
Xiangyu Automotive Lighting, a major Chinese maker of vehicle lights, dismissed 107 recent graduates soon after they joined the company in July 2026.
They had been recruited for research, development or technical jobs, and were among 440 graduates offered positions through hiring rounds in autumn 2025 and spring 2026.
The dismissals became public in August and drew widespread criticism online.
On August 27, the company apologized and admitted that management decisions and the way the dismissals were carried out had been flawed.
A local government labor authority in Changzhou, where the company is based, also found problems with the termination process; the company suspended its human resources chief and said it would improve working conditions.
Some of the graduates sent contract copies and recordings to a major European carmaker and the Hong Kong stock exchange’s whistleblowing channel to draw wider attention to the case.
Volkswagen said it would investigate.
Chinese car-lighting company Xingyu Automotive Lighting faced public backlash after dismissing 107 new graduates.
The graduates had joined the company in July in research and development or technical roles.
They were among 440 people who received job offers through recruitment rounds in autumn 2025 and spring 2026.
The company apologized on August 27 and offered compensation after acknowledging errors in management decisions and communication.
Some dismissed graduates sent evidence to a major European automaker customer and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange’s whistleblowing channel.
- Who
- Xingyu Automotive Lighting dismissed 107 new graduates.
- What
- The company terminated their employment contracts after they joined in July.
- When
- The dismissals came to light in August 2026; the company issued a statement on August 27.
- Where
- The company is based in Changzhou, Jiangsu province, China.
- Why
- The reason for the dismissals is not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
We will investigate
The new graduates joined Xingyu Automotive Lighting.
The dismissals came to light and drew criticism on social media and in the media.
Xingyu issued a statement apologizing to the 107 graduates and presenting compensation proposals.
- Dismissed graduates
- 107
- Job offers
- 440
- Roles
- Research and development or technical positions
- Company headquarters
- Changzhou, Jiangsu province, China
- Apology statement
- August 27
Sources
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