Key Points
- A Dutch court is holding a Jan. 14 hearing in a high-stakes control dispute between chipmaker Nexperia’s European management and its Chinese owner Wingtech.
- Earlier rulings stripped Wingtech’s CEO of his role and raised conflict-of-interest concerns, prompting legal challenges and governance scrutiny.
- The battle has disrupted supply chains and reflects broader Western-China tensions over semiconductor technology security and autonomy.
A legal battle over who controls Dutch semiconductor maker Nexperia is unfolding in an Amsterdam court, highlighting geopolitical tensions over technology and supply chains. European managers of Nexperia are contesting authority with its Chinese parent company Wingtech Technology, as judges consider whether to open a formal probe into alleged mismanagement or reverse earlier rulings that limited Wingtech’s control.
The dispute escalated after Dutch regulators intervened in September 2025, briefly taking governance control amid fears that sensitive technology and intellectual property could be transferred to China, before later easing direct oversight to reduce diplomatic tensions with Beijing.
In October, a Dutch court stripped Wingtech founder Zhang Xuezheng of his role as Nexperia’s CEO, citing conflict of interest concerns tied to related business interests in Shanghai. The January 14 hearing is the first public session where arguments will be heard on whether to investigate alleged corporate mismanagement or overturn past decisions.
Nexperia manufactures silicon wafers in Europe for use in global industries, including automotive semiconductors, before shipping them to a Chinese plant for cutting and packaging — a supply chain now strained by the dispute. The uncertainty has already contributed to chip shortages for carmakers and wider industry disruption.
Wingtech argues its strategy aligns with growth opportunities in China’s booming automotive market and claims that restoring control is vital for Nexperia’s future. The company says previous governance measures are hindering effective management and investment.
The conflict has drawn international attention because of its implications for Europe’s technological autonomy and broader competition with China in semiconductor manufacturing. Both the U.S. and Chinese governments have been involved in aspects of the dispute, reflecting global concerns about maintaining secure technology supply chains.
Nexperia’s lineup of chips and wafers plays an important role in industrial supply chains worldwide, and ongoing legal uncertainty raises questions over future production, investment direction and where advanced semiconductors will be made and controlled. Customers and partners are watching to see whether the court’s decision reinforces European management authority or shifts oversight back to Wingtech.
