Nexperia is taking Wingtech and its owner and founder, Zhang Xuezheng, to court. The Nijmegen-based chip company is seeking damages for actions it claims have caused it serious harm. Wingtech claims the lawsuit involves the equivalent of 1.8 billion euros and denies causing any harm. On the contrary, it is itself demanding billions from the Dutch government in damages.
The conflict between Nexperia and Wingtech has been ongoing for over a year. Once again, there is a new twist in the saga. Yesterday, Nexperia announced that it had filed a lawsuit with a Dutch court. According to the Dutch newspaper NRC, the case is being heard in the Amsterdam District Court. The claim is also said to target two Chinese subsidiaries. A trial date has not yet been set.
The lawsuit aims to hold the defendants “accountable for actions that, according to Nexperia, have caused significant damage to the company and its operations,” the chipmaker stated. Nexperia does not specify an amount, but Wingtech does. The Chinese parent company cites a combined claim for damages of $2 billion, equivalent to approximately 1.8 billion euros.
Independent Chinese supply chain
According to Wingtech, the Dutch branch alleges that Nexperia China and Nexperia Shanghai violated internal agreements. The defendants are also said to have established an independent Chinese supply chain. According to Nexperia, this disrupted its Dutch operations and created direct competition. Under Dutch law, this constitutes an unfair trade practice.
Wingtech rejects all these allegations. The Chinese company intends to retain foreign attorneys and mount a defense as soon as the case is formally served and accepted by the court.
Back-and-forth litigation
In September 2025, the Dutch government intervened to prevent chip technology and production capacity from being transferred to China. Alleged theft of trade secrets by CEO Zhang also played a role in this decision. The Enterprise Chamber suspended him and placed virtually all of Wingtech’s voting rights under independent administration.
Beijing responded quickly by imposing a temporary export ban on Nexperia chips packaged in the Chinese city of Dongguan. As a result, automakers, particularly in Europe, faced shortages. Both governments have since reversed their measures, but the company remains divided along national lines, resulting in significant geopolitical tension.
Wingtech itself is therefore also seeking funds to recover from the damage. The company sued the Netherlands in China for at least 8 billion yuan and the restoration of control, and initiated international arbitration. Wingtech has already written off 8.95 billion yuan on its stake in Nexperia.