Micah Jonah, March 9, 2026
The Chinese subsidiary of semiconductor manufacturer Nexperia announced that it has begun producing its own chips, marking a major step toward operating independently from its Dutch parent company amid an ongoing corporate dispute.
In a statement posted on social media on Monday, Nexperia China said it has started manufacturing several types of chips similar to those produced by its European counterpart, but using 12-inch wafers—a manufacturing size that the Dutch-based company currently cannot produce in Europe.
The development comes after tensions escalated in October 2025 between the Chinese unit, its owner Wingtech Technology, and Nexperia’s European headquarters. The conflict followed intervention by the Netherlands government aimed at preventing the company from transferring more operations to China.
Before the dispute, Nexperia’s production chain involved manufacturing semiconductor wafers in Europe and shipping them to China for packaging into finished chips. After the government intervention, however, the arrangement collapsed.
Nexperia China subsequently declared operational independence, while the European division halted shipments of wafers to China, citing unpaid bills.
It remains unclear where Nexperia China is sourcing its 12-inch wafers. However, industry observers point to a potential link with WingSkySemi, a Shanghai-based semiconductor fabrication plant associated with Wingtech founder Zhang Xuezheng. The facility had previously cooperated with Nexperia before the dispute began.
The split threatens to disrupt supply chains for automakers and electronics manufacturers that rely on Nexperia’s components, highlighting broader geopolitical tensions affecting the global semiconductor industry.
The dispute also reflects increasing pressure on Western technology companies as governments tighten controls over strategic industries and supply chains involving China.
