Battle between Netherlands and China over chipmaker could disrupt car factories, companies say
Car companies across Europe and Japan including Volvo, Volkswagen, Honda and Nissan have warned that the battle between the Netherlands and China over control of the chipmaker Nexperia could hit production at factories.Last week’s decision by the Dutch government to take control of the Chinese-owned chipmaker, which is based in the Netherlands, has sent shock waves across the car industry, which is already facing potential shortages of products such as magnets amid China’s latest restrictions on rare earths exports.The Hague said at the time that it was taking control of Nexperia to safeguard Europe’s supply of semiconductors and that it had invoked a cold-war era law to take effective control of the company following concerns raised by the US about the Chinese owner, Wingtech.That decision caused an immediate rift with Beijing, which banned all exports from the chipmaker, escalating the already tense relations between China and the US before a potential meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping next week in Korea.The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, whose members include Nissan, Toyota, Honda and Mazda, said on Thursday it had received a warning from Nexperia that chips could now be in short supply, potentially holding up manufacturing.
“The chips manufactured by the affected manufacturers are important parts used in electronic control units, etc, and we recognise that this incident will have a serious impact on the global production of our member companies,” the association said,“We hope that the countries involved will come to a prompt and practical solution,”The German car trade association the VDA has also warned of serious consequences for an industry already battling stiff competition from Chinese EV manufacturers,Its president, Hildegard Müller, said: “The situation could soon lead to significant production restrictions – or even a stop in production – if the interruption of Nexperia chip deliveries cannot be resolved in the short term,”She revealed that VDA members and suppliers had received a notice on 10 October from Nexperia “describing a sequence of events that has led the company to no longer be able to fully ensure the supply of its chips to the automotive supply chain”.
Such is the urgency that the VDA had a meeting with the German economy minister, pushing the federal government and the European Commission for “quick and pragmatic solutions”.In Japan, a Nissan spokesperson said: “We are assessing the situation and will take appropriate measures as needed.”Sign up to Business TodayGet set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morningafter newsletter promotionNexperia produces large volumes of semiconductors in the Netherlands, which are widely used in the automotive industry and consumer electronics.The majority are packaged in China, from where they are sold back into global industries.The chief executive of Volvo Cars, Håkan Samuelsson, said the Swedish group, owned by China’s Geely, was not seeing any immediate problems itself, but said he expected rivals to be hit.
“I think there will be some factories shut down,” he told the Financial Times on Thursday,“You always have to be a bit smarter than the rest of the pack so you are not the one that has to shut down the factory,”The UK industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said chip supply problems were the last thing the industry needed,“While the sector has made efforts to diversify its supply chains, if not resolved quickly this issue has the potential to severely disrupt vehicle production and market supply,” It said.
“SMMT is actively monitoring the situation and is in contact with members and government to understand the scale of any impact and measures that might be taken to mitigate it.”Germany’s Volkswagen warned on Wednesday that its car production could also be hit.VW, Europe’s biggest carmaker, confirmed that some Nexperia components are used in its vehicles but said production was currently unaffected.“However, given the dynamic nature of the situation, an impact on production cannot be ruled out in the short term,” added the company, whose 10 brands include Audi, Seat and Skoda.The German economy ministry said on Wednesday it would have a call with car industry bosses.
Dozens of Labour MPs warn of chaos for firms over gender recognition advice
Dozens of Labour MPs have written to ministers warning that upcoming regulations on how to implement rules on gender recognition could cause chaos for many businesses.In a private letter to the business secretary, Peter Kyle, the MPs said they had been contacted by large numbers of companies that were deeply alarmed at the implications of the guidance, citing significant potential costs and a “minefield” of competing legal rights.Ministers are still considering the final guidance, drafted by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), so it is not yet public. Sources at the watchdog, however, have briefed that it is broadly similar to interim advice issued shortly after April’s landmark supreme court ruling that sex in the Equality Act refers only to biological sex.The interim advice, which was withdrawn last week, said the supreme court ruling meant transgender people should not be allowed to use toilets meant for the gender they live as, and that in some cases they could not use toilets consistent with their birth sex
Care Quality Commission chief quits over maternity inquiry into NHS trust he led
The chief executive of the Care Quality Commission has quit after the announcement of an independent inquiry into maternity failings at an NHS trust he led for a decade.Sir Julian Hartley said staying in his current role was “incompatible” with the investigation into Leeds teaching hospitals NHS trust (LTH), which he led for 10 years until 2023, and said it could “undermine trust and confidence in the regulator”.In a statement, he said: “This has been an incredibly difficult decision. However, I feel that my current role as chief executive of CQC has become incompatible with the important conversations happening about care at LTH, including during the time I was chief executive there.“I am so sorry for the fact that some families suffered harm and loss during this time
NHS health checks in England to have questions on menopause for first time
NHS health checks are to include questions about the menopause for the first time, ministers have announced, with millions of women in England expected to benefit.Adults aged from 40 to 74 who do not have a pre-existing long-term health condition are eligible for an NHS health check every five years. The checks are intended to identify those at higher risk of heart and kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia and stroke.The checks will also include questions about the menopause, which the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) estimates could help as many as 5 million women. The questions will be written over the next few months and ministers hope the change will take effect from 2026
The housing crisis needs better solutions than this | Letters
John Harris’s article on poverty and housing in the UK’s hinterlands is both moving and a vital element of the combined analytical framework that describes the situation in modern Britain (A waiting list of thousands, and just five new homes for social rent: this city shows the depth of Britain’s housing crisis, 19 October).Harris notes, though, that “On the upside, the renters’ rights bill … is about to receive royal assent”. I appreciate the sentiment, but it misses two vital points. First, does anyone believe that a bill imagined by the previous Tory government and written by this current Labour one will be effectively worded and enforced? This would require courage and competence.Second, and more importantly, the new bill actively alienates landlords rather than viewing them as partners in a process of reciprocal and mutual need
Samaritans accused of stifling dissent and bullying over branch closure plans
Samaritans has been accused of bullying behaviour and shutting down dissent after suspending a number of senior volunteers who spoke out publicly against its controversial plans to close as many as half of its 200 UK branches.The mental health charity suspended at least two of its branch directors and one former branch director on Tuesday, 48 hours before its annual general meeting.It refused to elaborate on the suspensions other than to say complaints had been received about “the recent conduct of a small number of volunteers” and that these would be investigated “in the normal way”.One volunteer said the suspensions had been greeted with outrage and disbelief. “It’s petty and stupid and self-defeating,” they said
NHS staff: have you seen or been affected by violence in hospital?
According to the Royal College of Nursing, incidents of violence against A&E nurses have almost doubled over the last six years, often due to people being frustrated at waiting so long for care. Incidents include nurses being punched, spat at and pinned up against a wall.We would like to hear from NHS staff about their experiences of seeing or being the victim of violence in hospitals. What happened and was the incident reported? If the police were involved, what was the outcome?You can tell us about your experiences of violence in the NHS by filling in the form below, or messaging us.Please include as much detail as possible
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