When One Chipmaker’s IP Sparks a Three-Country Showdown

A Dutch chipmaker has landed at the center of a global dispute that’s putting Europe’s manufacturing stability to the test. Nexperia, headquartered in the Netherlands but owned by China’s Wingtech, has become the latest example of how intellectual property and international politics can collide — with real consequences for industries that rely on steady, secure supply chains.

At the end of September, the Dutch government took temporary control of Nexperia, citing fears that its chip-making know-how — the company’s key intellectual property — could be transferred to China. This wasn’t a full nationalization, but it gave the state oversight of Nexperia’s operating decisions to prevent potential technology leakage. In response, China imposed export restrictions on Nexperia’s Chinese factories, blocking shipments of components vital to European production. Meanwhile, the U.S. added Wingtech to its export control list, tightening the global pressure on Chinese-owned tech firms and their European subsidiaries.

Major carmakers like BMW, Volkswagen, and Mercedes-Benz haven’t yet felt the impact — but they know it’s coming. Nexperia’s chips may be small, but they’re critical. If exports stay blocked, Europe could see delays in manufacturing just as the industry tries to recover from years of turbulence. 

At KOREJZOVA LEGAL, we help businesses protect what’s theirs — from trademark and patent registration to renewals and unfair competition disputes — so your IP stays secure, no matter where the next trade storm hits. Contact us today!

Text: More, Rachel. ‘European Carmakers Fear for Production in Dispute over Chipmaker Nexperia’. News Outlet. Reuters, Reuters, 16 Oct. 2025, https://www.reuters.com/world/china/bmw-says-supplier-network-impacted-by-developments-chip-maker-nexperia-2025-10-16/.

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