The global automotive industry is grappling with a new semiconductor crisis, centered around Nexperia, a chipmaker caught in the crossfire of U.S.-China trade tensions. This escalating dispute poses an immediate threat to vehicle production in Europe and North America, with economic impacts that will inevitably drive up the cost of goods, including used trucks.
Automakers, still recovering from the seismic shocks of the 2021 chip shortage, are now staring down a renewed threat to new car production. This potential curtailment of supply has a direct and significant impact on the used vehicle market, as a scarcity of new models typically drives up demand and prices for pre-owned automobiles, including the critical segment of used trucks essential for logistics and commerce. The implications are far-reaching, extending beyond just the manufacturing floor to impact consumers and businesses relying on these vehicles.
This unfolding scenario underscores the inherent fragility underlying decades of globalized manufacturing, exposing vulnerabilities in a supply chain once optimized for cost and efficiency. As governments assert greater control over critical technologies, the industry finds itself navigating a complex geopolitical landscape, where the absence of even a single, unglamorous chip can bring entire production lines to a halt, with tangible consequences for market dynamics and consumer costs.
1. **The Nexperia Saga: A Geopolitical Flashpoint**The current semiconductor supply shock, described as the most acute geopolitical crisis since the pandemic, began to crystallize in early October. It centers on Nexperia, a company that became caught in the intensifying trade war between the United States and China. The origins of this dispute can be traced back to December, when the U.S. Commerce Department placed Nexperia’s parent company, China-based Wingtech Technologies, on its entity list, imposing trade restrictions.
This move by the U.S. was a significant precursor, designating Wingtech as a national security risk and limiting technology transfers. Subsequently, on September 29th of this year, the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security further expanded export controls. These new regulations encompassed all entities at least 50 percent owned by companies on the entity list, directly ensnaring Nexperia, irrespective of its Dutch registration. This escalation laid the groundwork for the extraordinary measures that followed.
2. **The Dutch Government’s Extraordinary Intervention**In a remarkable escalation of Western industrial policy, the Dutch government took temporary control of Nexperia on October 13th, citing grave governance deficiencies and threats to European economic security. This intervention was enacted by invoking the Goods Availability Act (Wet Beschikbaarheid Goederen), a statute described as a relic of Cold War emergency planning that had remained virtually dormant for decades.
The law permits state intervention in private companies during emergencies or when critical supplies face disruption. Applying it to a major semiconductor manufacturer signals the extreme gravity with which governments now view threats to technological sovereignty. The Dutch court specifically cited “well founded reasons to doubt sound management” under the leadership of Wingtech chairman Zhang Xuezheng, who was immediately suspended from his executive and nonexecutive director positions at Nexperia Holdings.
Simultaneously, the government imposed strict prohibitions, preventing Nexperia from altering its assets, intellectual property, operations, or personnel for one year without explicit consent. A newly appointed interim chief executive officer, Stefan Tilger, assumed control of operations. This bold move highlights the depth of trust erosion between Beijing and Amsterdam, ultimately forcing the appointment of an independent non-Chinese board member with decisive voting power, a clear capitulation to Western pressure.
3. **China’s Swift Retaliation: Export Restrictions**Beijing’s response to the Dutch intervention was swift and decisive, reflecting its predictable logic in the face of escalating technology competition. In early October, China’s Ministry of Commerce imposed its own export restrictions, preventing Nexperia China and its subcontractors from exporting certain finished components and sub-assemblies manufactured on Chinese soil. This move directly impacted Nexperia’s supply chain, as most of its chips, though made in Europe, are packaged in China.
This reciprocal action immediately threw the global automotive industry onto high alert, as neither side of Nexperia’s operations would be able to quickly find alternative partners for these crucial stages of production. The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) reported that existing stocks would last only several weeks following this communication, underscoring the immediate and severe implications for automotive production.
Wingtech responded with a statement through archived social media posts, expressing “measured fury” and arguing that the Dutch government’s intervention constituted “excessive interference driven by geopolitical bias, rather than a fact-based risk assessment.” The company emphasized its strict adherence to laws and regulations since acquiring Nexperia in 2018 for $3.63 billion. However, with Beijing’s export restrictions already in effect, Wingtech’s protestations were largely academic, as its shares plummeted by their maximum daily limit of 10 percent on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, reflecting market anxiety.
4. **Why Nexperia’s Legacy Chips Are Non-Negotiable**What makes Nexperia’s position so indispensable to the automotive sector is not its production of cutting-edge semiconductor technology; quite the opposite, in fact. The company specializes in mature, proven technologies—so-called legacy chips—that have been refined over decades. These components, including discrete semiconductors, diodes, transistors, and MOSFETs, perform unglamorous but absolutely vital functions in vehicles, operating everything from switches to steering wheel controls, embedded in electrical systems and power management units.
These legacy chips possess critical advantages that newer semiconductors cannot easily replicate, particularly their stringent automotive qualification certifications such as AEC Q100 and Q101. These certifications demand extraordinary reliability standards, a prerequisite for components used in safety-critical vehicle systems. Switching to alternative suppliers is not a simple matter; it means recertifying components through lengthy homologation processes that cannot be compressed into days or weeks, making a rapid transition virtually impossible.
More critically, Nexperia’s products are not standalone elements that suppliers can easily swap out. They are deeply embedded within preassembled components provided by Tier 1 manufacturers like Bosch and Denso. These chips are soldered into complex assemblies that feed directly into a vehicle’s electrical architecture. Tracing Nexperia components through these nested supply chains presents a formidable intellectual challenge, exacerbated by the fact that many Tier 1 suppliers themselves lack complete visibility into their own subcomponent sourcing. Consequently, the absence of even a single Nexperia chip can cascade through entire production lines, causing widespread disruption.
Automakers are on high alert, with major manufacturers like General Motors closely monitoring the situation and working diligently with supply chain partners to head off potential disruptions, ensuring they can source chips from alternative locations and maintain production levels.
Stellantis, another automotive giant, has echoed similar sentiments. Spokesperson Kaileen Connelly confirmed that the company is “closely monitoring the situation and collaborating with Nexperia and other suppliers to assess potential impacts and develop mitigation measures.” Other European automakers, including BMW, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, and Renault, have also stated they are monitoring the situation and, in some cases, preparing dedicated task forces to mitigate potential disruptions. BMW acknowledged on October 16th that “parts of its supplier network were already being affected,” though it insisted that production continued as planned, suggesting disruptions in non-critical channels thus far.
However, the underlying anxiety is palpable, with some automakers confiding to Reuters that United States auto plants could face production impacts as soon as November. These companies requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, highlighting the precariousness of the situation. The collective response from these industry leaders underscores the serious threat this crisis poses to global vehicle manufacturing, demanding immediate attention and robust contingency planning.
6. **The Alliance for Automotive Innovation’s Urgent Plea**The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a powerful lobbying group representing a vast array of major automakers including GM, Toyota, Ford, Volkswagen, and Hyundai, has issued a dire warning regarding the Nexperia crisis. John Bozzella, CEO of the Alliance, delivered an urgent plea for a swift resolution, drawing on the painful lessons learned from the recent past. He emphasized the severe and rapid repercussions that disruptions to the interconnected automotive supply chain can have.
In a statement to the Detroit Free Press, Bozzella underscored the gravity of the situation: “If the shipment of automotive chips doesn’t resume ― quickly ― it’s going to disrupt auto production in the U.S. and many other countries and have a spillover effect in other industries. It’s that significant.” This statement highlights the broad economic implications, extending beyond the automotive sector itself, as vehicle production impacts numerous ancillary industries.
The Alliance is urging all parties involved to find a quick resolution to ensure that U.S. and global automaking can remain on track. Their concern stems from the known fragility of the supply chain, where the absence of a tiny component, like a diode or a chip, can render entire vehicle manufacturing processes inoperable. This collective voice of the industry signals the urgency and the potential for significant economic upheaval if the supply interruption is not addressed promptly.
7. **MEMA’s Broader Concern for the Supply Base**MEMA, an association representing vehicle suppliers, has also voiced significant concerns, broadening the perspective beyond just the immediate automakers to the entire, intricate supply chain. Spokeswoman Megan Gardner stated that the group is closely monitoring the “recent export restrictions impacting semiconductors and diodes, including the developments related to Nexperia,” indicating a deep understanding of the foundational role these components play across the industry.
MEMA emphasized that chips and diodes are foundational to automotive components and systems, essential for everything from infotainment systems and door handles to steering and braking mechanisms. The absence of even a single component, regardless of its perceived simplicity or cost, can entirely disrupt the manufacture of complex vehicles. This highlights how pervasive these components are, touching nearly every system within a modern automobile.
While auto suppliers have significantly improved supply chain diversification since the 2021 shortage, MEMA warns that risks persist, affecting not just Tier 1 suppliers but also sub-tier companies providing essential components. They are collaborating across industries and with the government to address these widespread impacts.
8. **Tracing the Origins: The 2021 Pandemic Chip Shortage**The current Nexperia imbroglio is not the industry’s first encounter with a severe semiconductor scarcity. Just a few years prior, the global automotive industry was rocked by the 2021 chip shortage, a crisis whose ripple effects are still being felt. This initial disruption was a direct consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, which fundamentally altered global demand patterns.
The surge in demand for personal electronics during remote work periods overwhelmed semiconductor manufacturers, who had already reduced production. This sudden shift in demand diverted critical chips away from the automotive sector, as production couldn’t meet the overwhelming needs of various industries.
The repercussions for vehicle manufacturing were substantial. S&P Global Mobility estimates reveal that in 2021, over 9.5 million units of global light-vehicle production were lost directly due to the lack of necessary semiconductors, with the third quarter experiencing the largest impact. Another 3 million units were similarly affected in 2022, underscoring the profound and prolonged damage inflicted on the industry’s capacity and output.
9. **Mid-2023 Assessment: A New Normal Amid Lingering Constraints**While the 2021-2022 period represented the apex of the semiconductor crisis, mid-2023 saw a significant shift in the landscape. According to recent analysis by S&P Global Mobility, “the worst of the fallout seems to have settled, and the auto industry has found a new normal.” The acute dearth of supply that hobbled vehicle production largely faded into the background, though not entirely.
During the first half of 2023, losses specifically attributable to the semiconductor shortage diminished considerably, falling to approximately 524,000 units globally. This improvement was largely due to automakers and suppliers adapting their production schedules to a more predictable, albeit still constrained, availability of chips. The industry’s ability to manage this environment has substantially reduced the frequency of identifiable production disruptions.
Mark Fulthorpe, executive director of global light-vehicle production at S&P Global Mobility, noted this evolution, stating, “We’ve moved from obvious disruption, clearly visible at the automaker and plant level, to a stage where we know constraint remains, but it is impossible to identify.” This suggests a systemic shift where the industry has learned to operate effectively within a persistent but less overtly disruptive state of supply limitation.
Even as the immediate shortage eases, the demand for semiconductors in vehicles continues to grow, presenting a long-term challenge due to the increasing complexity and technological features in modern cars, from advanced infotainment to autonomous driving capabilities.
Phil Amsrud, senior principal analyst in the S&P Global Mobility supplier and components team, highlighted this trend, estimating that “the value of semiconductors installed in vehicles averaged US$500 per car in 2020, but is forecast to reach US$1,400 per car by 2028.” This dramatic increase underscores the expanding role of semiconductors in automotive architecture, transforming vehicles into rolling computers.
This evolving demand is also characterized by a shift towards consolidation of electronics in cars, moving from numerous individual electronic control units (ECUs) to more powerful domain controllers and central computers. While this may reduce the sheer number of modules, it demands more powerful system-on-chip (SoC) and discrete memory solutions, often processed at more advanced nodes. However, analog, discrete, and power components, which are crucial for basic vehicle functions, will continue to rely on mature process nodes, areas that unfortunately receive much less investment.
11. **The Persistent Shadow of Geopolitical Tensions**Beyond the immediate Nexperia dispute, broader geopolitical risks cast a persistent shadow over the global semiconductor supply chain. Trade tensions between the United States and mainland China, which have simmered for years, continue to be a significant destabilizing factor. These tensions manifest in actions that can abruptly alter the availability of critical materials and components, as evidenced by recent events.
In an effort to protect national security, China implemented export restrictions on key semiconductor materials in July, a move that reflects a broader trend of nations seeking to control vital technological resources and requiring foreign companies to disclose end-use applications for critical rare earth elements.
The Nexperia crisis is a clear manifestation of years of escalating technological competition between the United States and China, forcing governments to balance economic and security interests and influencing global supply chains, as seen in the U.S. and Europe’s push for domestic chip production.
12. **Strategic Shifts: How Automakers Adapted to Scarcity**The repeated disruptions to the semiconductor supply chain have prompted significant strategic adaptations among original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Faced with chronic lower production volumes due to chip shortages, automakers have fundamentally re-evaluated their inventory and pricing strategies. This period of scarcity inadvertently led to a recalibration of market dynamics in their favor.
With chip supplies limited, automakers strategically allocated available semiconductors to higher-margin products and trim levels, allowing them to command higher prices, reduce reliance on incentives, and maintain profitability despite producing fewer vehicles.
Looking forward, this experience may prompt a fundamental rethink on how automakers manage the delicate balance between inventory and demand. The incentive to support pricing power with managed production, and to continue allocating chips to high-margin, high-feature set vehicles—which inherently demand more chips—remains strong. This adaptation suggests a potential long-term shift away from pre-pandemic volume-driven strategies, favoring profitability and resilience in a constrained environment.
The combined effects of the semiconductor crisis and other disruptions have set the global vehicle production industry back by approximately a decade, significantly altering its growth trajectory and market expansion potential.
However, this ambitious milestone is now “not expected until past 2030,” according to S&P Global Mobility’s revised analysis. This stark recalculation reflects the profound and lasting damage inflicted by years of lost production from 2020 through 2022. The recovery, while ongoing, is not expected to simply ‘make up’ for the lost output, but rather to follow a significantly delayed path.
Global light-vehicle production, which stood at 94.1 million units in 2018, fell to about 88 million in 2019 and was further pulled down by 16% year-over-year in 2020 due to pandemic-related supply chain woes. Even with supply chain issues approaching normalization in 2023, output is forecast at 85.6 million units, with pre-2019 levels not expected to be surpassed until 2028. This extended recovery period underscores the deep and structural challenges faced by the industry.
14. **The Enduring Ripple: Impact on the Used Truck Market**The pervasive effects of both past and present chip shortages extend far beyond new vehicle production lines, exerting a sustained influence on the price of used trucks. A scarcity of new models inherently creates increased demand for pre-owned vehicles, a phenomenon clearly observed during the 2021 crisis. That shortage, as noted in the context, “helped drive up the price of both new and used cars,” establishing a direct causal link.
For the crucial segment of used trucks, which are indispensable for logistics, construction, and various commercial activities, this dynamic is particularly impactful. When new truck production is constrained or delayed, businesses and individuals in need of transport solutions must turn to the secondary market. This consistent, elevated demand, combined with reduced new supply, creates upward pressure on prices, maintaining them at levels higher than would typically be expected in a stable market.
Therefore, even as the immediate, visible disruptions of the chip shortage may have receded, the underlying scarcity and geopolitical uncertainties, coupled with delayed new production targets, ensure that the used truck market will continue to experience heightened prices. This situation underscores how deeply intertwined global supply chain fragility is with everyday economic realities, impacting everything from consumer goods delivery to the operational costs of businesses reliant on these essential vehicles.
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The ongoing semiconductor supply issues, from the Nexperia crisis to the lingering pandemic effects, highlight the profound global interdependencies in modern manufacturing, and despite the auto industry’s resilience, the challenges of evolving demand, geopolitical tensions, and production setbacks will continue to impact markets like used trucks, where every component is crucial.
