Volkswagen has received its first batch of semiconductors from Chinese-owned chipmaker Nexperia after a temporary supply disruption triggered by export restrictions, the company’s China chief said, according to German newspaper Handelsblatt.
The Netherlands-based Nexperia, owned by Chinese group Wingtech, had its operations seized by the Dutch government on Sept. 30 amid broader U.S.-China trade tensions. China subsequently halted exports of the company’s products from Oct. 4, causing shortages of chips widely used in the automotive industry.
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Nexperia said on Thursday that it welcomed an agreement between Washington and Beijing allowing it to operate without U.S. export restrictions for one year. China’s Ministry of Commerce has also said it will approve exports on a case-by-case basis.
“There have already been initial exports,” Ralf Brandstaetter, Volkswagen’s board member for China, was quoted as saying by Handelsblatt. “After the agreement with the United States, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce reacted quickly and announced that it would grant short-term special permits.”
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Brandstaetter added that the long-term stability of the arrangement would depend on relations between Washington and Beijing. He noted that while Volkswagen’s production in China remains unaffected for now, the broader situation continues to create uncertainty for the industry.
