Authorities in Brazil said Friday they are probing Chinese auto giant BYD and one of its contractors for suspected "trafficking" of Chinese workers building a factory in the South American country.

By Fabio Teixeira RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) -Chinese workers found at a construction site for a factory owned by China's electric vehicle producer BYD in Brazil's Bahia state are victims of human trafficking,

Brazilian labor authorities have accused Chinese electric vehicle company BYD and its contractor, Jinjiang Group, of human trafficking at a construction site in Bahia. The allegations highlight challenges in China's investment model and its relations with Brazil as BYD seeks to expand globally.