The company confirmed on Wednesday that while Nexperia is not a direct supplier, some of its components are used within parts provided by Volkswagen’s tier-one suppliers. “We are in close contact with all relevant stakeholders in light of the current situation to identify potential risks at an early stage and to be able to make decisions regarding any necessary measures,” a Volkswagen spokesperson told CNBC.
Although the automaker stressed that its production remains unaffected for now, it admitted that temporary disruptions cannot be ruled out as the situation develops. Shares of Volkswagen slipped 2.2% in Wednesday afternoon trading in London.
The warning comes amid mounting industry concern following the Dutch government’s recent takeover of Nexperia, citing national security risks. Dutch authorities said the move was necessary to prevent the company’s technologies from becoming “unavailable in an emergency.”
In retaliation, China imposed export restrictions on Nexperia’s finished semiconductor products — a decision that has reverberated across Europe’s automotive supply chain.
Germany’s automotive lobby group, the VDA (Verband der Automobilindustrie), had earlier cautioned that the standoff could lead to “significant production restrictions” if chip supply interruptions persist.
A spokesperson for Germany’s Economy Ministry also acknowledged growing concerns over the fragility of chip supplies, underscoring how geopolitical tensions are once again testing Europe’s dependence on critical semiconductor imports.