Nexperia Chips Resume Shipments!

On November 9, China's Ministry of Commerce announced the removal of export restrictions on Nexperia's civilian-use semiconductors — a move expected to ease the ongoing chip shortage faced by global automakers.

Nexperia, headquartered in the Netherlands and owned by China's Wingtech Technology, has been at the center of a months-long dispute over ownership and production control. German and Japanese companies have since confirmed that Nexperia chips produced in China have resumed delivery.

The decision follows tensions that began when the Dutch government took temporary control of Nexperia on September 30, citing national and economic security risks over plans to shift production from Europe to China. In response, China halted exports of finished chips from Nexperia's Chinese facilities — most of which are packaged domestically — but recently began accepting exemption requests.

According to industry executives, Nexperia has restarted shipments of several key semiconductor products. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed signs of progress, suggesting that chip deliveries could resume “within hours.”

Aumovio, a German automotive manufacturer, confirmed it was among the first to secure exemptions, ensuring renewed chip supply from China. Volkswagen's China division also reported receiving the first batch of components, while Honda — Japan's second-largest automaker — noted improvements in delivery timelines after disruptions that halted production at its Mexico plant.

Although Nexperia has yet to confirm a full recovery of supply, company representatives expressed optimism that normal operations will resume soon, following China's latest policy shift.

Automakers across Europe remain cautious. Despite stable third-quarter results, companies like Volkswagen and ZF warn that chip shortages could re-emerge within their supply chains, underscoring the fragile balance of the global semiconductor market.