The brand of Chinese language-owned semiconductor firm Nexperia is displayed on the chipmaker’s German facility, after the Dutch authorities seized management and auto trade our bodies sounded the alarm over the potential impression on automobile manufacturing, in Hamburg, Germany, Oct. 23, 2025.
Jonas Walzberg | Reuters
Netherlands-based chipmaker Nexperia is on the coronary heart of a standoff between the European Union, the U.S. and China that has triggered a near-crisis for international automakers.
The Dutch authorities seized management of Nexperia, owned by the Chinese language firm Wingtech, in October, citing nationwide safety issues. The transfer prompted Beijing to dam Nexperia merchandise from leaving China.
Conferences are underway in Europe Saturday to try to defuse the escalating difficulty, and Chinese language and U.S. authorities look like opening up a pathway for Nexperia’s China-based operations to renew exporting vital automotive chips.
Spokespeople for the White Home and Nexperia didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
For now, nevertheless, the auto trade’s provide chain nonetheless hangs within the stability.
The dispute is threatening automobile manufacturing worldwide as automakers warn of looming shortages of the chipmaker’s elements, that are vital to primary electrical capabilities in automobiles and difficult to exchange on brief discover.
The battle has unfolded amid heightened scrutiny of Chinese language-linked tech corporations from Western governments, together with the U.S., which not too long ago tightened export-control guidelines to restrict expertise transfers to Chinese language-owned entities.
Nexperia’s proprietor, Wingtech, was placed on a U.S. blacklist in December 2024 for its alleged function “in aiding China’s authorities’s efforts to accumulate entities with delicate semiconductor manufacturing functionality.”
This is what to learn about the place the dispute stands, and why it issues.
Why are Nexperia chips so vital?
Nexperia manufactures billions of so-called basis chips — transistors, diodes and energy administration elements — which might be produced in Europe, assembled and examined in China, after which re-exported to prospects in Europe and elsewhere. Round 70% of chips made within the Netherlands are despatched to China to be accomplished and re-exported to different international locations.
The chips are primary and cheap, however are wanted in nearly each machine that makes use of electrical energy. In automobiles, these chips are used to attach the battery to motors, for lights and sensors, for braking techniques, airbag controllers, leisure techniques and electrical home windows.
Nexperia had gross sales of $2 billion final yr.
In late October, automakers, reminiscent of Volkswagen, Nissan Motor and Mercedes-Benz, sounded the alarm about potential manufacturing cuts if Nexperia’s chip exports are curtailed for lengthy.
Whereas automakers usually have some stockpiles and different suppliers, it’s troublesome to change provide sources in a single day.
What occurred and the place do issues stand?
In September, the Dutch authorities invoked a Chilly Battle-era legislation to successfully take management of Nexperia, amid issues that its Chinese language proprietor was planning to shift mental property to a different firm it owned. A Dutch courtroom additionally suspended Nexperia CEO, Wingtech founder Zhang Xuezhen, citing mismanagement.
Beijing retaliated weeks later by imposing export controls on sure Nexperia merchandise made in China, escalating tensions and fueling fears of a broader provide chain shock. That prompted the corporate to inform carmakers it may now not assure provides.
However indicators of a breakthrough have began to emerge.
On Friday, reviews stated the U.S. plans to announce that Nexperia will resume sending chips below a framework settlement reached throughout talks between President Donald Trump and Chinese language chief Xi Jinping, citing sources accustomed to the matter. And on Saturday, China stated it will exempt some Nexperia chips from its export ban. Chinese language officers didn’t specify what these exemptions may entail.
“We are going to comprehensively take into account the precise scenario of the enterprise and exempt eligible exports,” The Chinese language Commerce Ministry stated in an announcement.
If finalized, the exemptions may ease instant stress on automakers. However the broader dispute over possession, expertise management and safety oversight stays unresolved.
