Nexperia China accuses Dutch head office of spreading misinformation to customers

A Chinese firm under chipmaker Nexperia has openly challenged its Netherlands-based head office, accusing it of spreading misinformation to customers and further raising tensions in a dispute that could affect the stability of global industrial supply chains.

Nexperia (Shanghai), one of nine China-registered entities under the Dutch company, asserted its independent operational status in a public letter to customers on its WeChat account, published in both English and Chinese, on Thursday.

The firm said Nexperia’s head office “continued to disregard the lawful rights of Nexperia China entities and attempted to disrupt our normal operations” by circulating false information to customers.

It also assured clients that products manufactured and delivered in China were all up to quality standards and that their interests were of “foremost priority”.

“Nexperia China entities … strictly adhere to Chinese laws, operating legally in compliance and independently,” the Shanghai unit said.

The post reflected Nexperia China’s firm position that local managers were in charge of its operations and that instructions from the Dutch head office would be ignored, according to a letter issued to employees over the weekend.