Dutch‑headquartered Nexperia, a key supplier of mature semiconductors used in vehicles, is caught in a trade and governance storm after the Dutch government seized control of the company citing “grave governance deficiencies”.
In response, China’s Ministry of Commerce imposed export restrictions on Nexperia’s Chinese operations, elevating the situation into a full‑blown supply‑chain emergency.
Why It Matters to Automakers
Nexperia specializes in legacy components — diodes, transistors, MOSFETs — that may not be technologically cutting‑edge but are certified for automotive use and deeply embedded in vehicle systems.
The company warned customers it could not guarantee deliveries, with industry association European Automobile Manufacturers' Association estimating supplies may last only “several weeks” at current usage rates.
Broader Strategic Implications
- Fragile supply networks: The crisis underscores how concentrated manufacturing and dependency on a few suppliers creates systemic risk.
- Re‑thinking “just‑in‑time”: Automakers may reconsider lean inventory strategies in favor of resilience, dual sourcing, or regionalisation.
- Policy and industrial strategy: Governments are increasingly intervening in critical supply chains — the Dutch move signals a shift in how chip‑manufacturing risk is viewed and managed.
