Nexperia’s Chinese owner vows to regain control of chipmaker

Wingtech Technology, the Chinese owner of Dutch chipmaker Nexperia, will use all available legal options to regain control of Nexperia after a Dutch court removed its shareholder rights and ousted former CEO Zhang Xuezheng.

Wingtech, listed in Shanghai, claims that the Dutch government’s recent move to revoke an executive order is not enough to restore its position, and that its voting rights remain in the hands of a court-appointed administrator.

Nexperia’s headquarters confirmed Zhang remains suspended, and is not acting as CEO.

Legal experts expect a lengthy court battle, with Wingtech potentially appealing to the Dutch Supreme Court, though this would review legal procedures rather than the facts.

The dispute between Nexperia’s Dutch and Chinese teams has raised concerns about the stability of chip supplies to global carmakers.

The legal process could take over two years, according to lawyers, and possibly much longer if further appeals or governance changes occur.

🔗 Source: South China Morning Post

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

Nexperia’s 40% share in basic discretes turns its governance crisis into a supply risk

Nexperia holds about 40% of the global market for basic chips like transistors and diodes used in vehicle electronic control units 1. Revenue reached $2.06 billion in 2024, with about 60% sold to carmakers such as Volkswagen and Toyota 2 1. BMW and Mercedes‑Benz also buy its parts 1.
Share in its defined markets rose to 9.7% in 2024 from 8.9% in 2023 2. Since October 2025 China has kept export restrictions, and Volkswagen has warned about production halts 1. A long legal case could keep voting rights with a court‑appointed administrator while the former CEO stays suspended, so automakers will need to qualify other suppliers 1.

European semiconductor suppliers can win reshoring orders under EU Chips Act measures; Chips Act 2.0 proposal expected in 2026

Nexperia’s troubles add urgency for an EU Chips Act 2.0 backed by all 27 Member States in September 2025 3. The Chips Joint Undertaking (the EU public‑private body that implements the Chips Act) targets nearly EUR 11 billion by 2030 for R&D and pilot lines, and the European Commission plans to present a Chips Act 2.0 proposal in Q1 2026 4 5.
Discrete component makers and chip foundries (contract manufacturing plants) can apply for Integrated Production Facility (IPF) or Open EU Foundry (OEF) status, which grants priority access to pilot lines and streamlined state aid 5. European automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Tier‑1 suppliers (direct suppliers to automakers) will favor Automotive Electronics Council‑qualified (AEC‑Q) European capacity as they diversify 2 5.