International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers

The Nexperia case: the EU caught between US injunctions and Chinese retaliation

Autoactu.com – Bernard Jullien – October 27, 2025

The Nexperia affair has exposed both Europe’s strategic vulnerability and its political dependence in the global semiconductor race. Originally a Philips subsidiary, Nexperia was sold in 2017 to Chinese investors and later acquired by China’s Wingtech. For years, the deal went unnoticed, but in October 2025 the Dutch government abruptly took control of Nexperia—citing governance concerns under an old Cold War law—after apparent pressure from the U.S., which had blacklisted Wingtech in 2024. The move provoked a fierce diplomatic reaction from Beijing and raised fears of major disruptions in Europe’s automotive supply chain, as Wingtech retaliated by blocking exports of semiconductors produced in its Chinese facilities. Nexperia supplies over 110 billion components annually, including key chips for automakers, and its global structure—with manufacturing split between Europe and Asia—made Europe particularly exposed. The Dutch justified their action by alleging financial siphoning and conflicts of interest by CEO Zhang Xuezheng (“Wing”), but observers see Washington’s geopolitical agenda as the real driver. The episode underscores Europe’s fragile sovereignty: its industries remain dependent on globalized, China-linked supply chains while following U.S. strategic imperatives. Beyond the immediate risk of chip shortages, the crisis highlights the urgent need for the EU to build a coherent industrial and investment policy to safeguard technological autonomy. 

https://www.autoactu.com/actualites/l-affaire-nexperia-l-ue-ballotee-entre-injonctions-americaines-et-retorsion-chinoise

Toyota Posts Record First-Half Sales as US Offsets Japan, China

Bloomberg – Nicholas Takahashi – October 27, 2025, at 5:30 AM GMT+1

Toyota Motor Corp. maintained record global sales in the first half of its fiscal year, as strong U.S. performance offset weaker results in Japan and China. Including Daihatsu and Hino, global sales rose nearly 3% in September to 949,153 units, while production increased 9% to over 1 million vehicles. Despite market volatility in China and U.S. trade tensions stemming from President Trump’s tariffs, Toyota achieved record output and sales for seven consecutive months before slowing in August. During the period, total sales grew 5%, marking a record six-month performance. In September, Toyota and Lexus sales rose more than 14% in the U.S. but slipped 1% in China and 5% in Japan due to a Prius recall. In China, domestic automakers such as BYD continue to erode foreign brands’ market share, yet Toyota has regained some ground thanks to its affordable all-electric bZ3X and popular hybrid models. However, a shrinking domestic market and waning subsidies in China present ongoing challenges. Overall, Toyota’s steady global expansion underscores the company’s resilience amid geopolitical frictions, shifting consumer demand, and intensifying competition in electric and hybrid vehicle segments.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-27/toyota-posts-record-first-half-sales-as-us-offsets-japan-china?srnd=phx-industries-transportation

Philippine conglomerates offer inroads for China, Vietnam EV brands

Nikkei – YUKI FUJITA, October 27, 2025, 12:15 JST

Philippine conglomerates are partnering with Chinese and Vietnamese electric vehicle makers to accelerate EV adoption in a market long dominated by Japanese automakers. At the Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit in Manila, Chinese brands like BYD and Zeekr showcased new models, including BYD’s eMAX 9 DM-i hybrid MPV and Zeekr’s electric coupe. Major local players such as Ayala Corp. and SM Group are spearheading the shift by developing infrastructure and financing solutions. Ayala’s automotive arm, ACMobility, became BYD’s distributor in 2023 and plans to double its dealership network to 80 by year-end, while its Bank of the Philippine Islands offers buyer discounts. SM Group’s BDO Unibank recently partnered with Vietnam’s Vingroup to finance its Green GSM EV taxi fleet, operational since June. Alliance Global Group, another key player, opened a Tesla dealership and is installing chargers in its commercial sites. EV sales surged to nearly 30,000 units in the first seven months of 2025, representing 5% of new vehicles and surpassing 2024’s total. Although Japanese brands still hold around 70% of the market, their absence at the EV summit contrasted with the growing influence of new entrants. Ayala’s decision to end partnerships with Volkswagen and Honda underscores a strategic pivot toward the EV era.

https://asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/electric-cars-in-china/philippine-conglomerates-offer-inroads-for-china-vietnam-ev-brands

Geely targets 100,000 UK sales in push to take on Tesla and BYD

Financial Times – Kana Inagaki in London, October 26, 2025

Chinese carmaker Geely plans to sell 100,000 vehicles annually in the UK within three years and is considering local production as part of its strategy to compete with Tesla and BYD in Europe’s second-largest electric vehicle market. The company will launch 10 electric and plug-in hybrid models, targeting a 5% UK market share—well above the roughly 2% held by Tesla and BYD each. Geely’s first UK model, the EX5 electric SUV, will start at £31,990 and rival Tesla’s Model Y. Head of Geely Auto UK Michael Yang noted that the UK remains an open and welcoming market for Chinese automakers, partly due to strong EV demand and the absence of tariffs. Geely may use its existing UK assets—LEVC, Lotus, and others—for local production and plans to hire 300 workers. Despite the UK government’s push to attract EV manufacturing, high energy and labor costs have deterred investment compared with Turkey, Hungary, or Spain. The UK aims to nearly double its annual vehicle production to 1.3 million by 2035, but struggles persist: Nissan is scaling back, and Jaguar Land Rover suffered a major cyberattack. Meanwhile, Chinese rivals like BYD and Chery are rapidly expanding, making the UK a critical foothold for Geely’s European ambitions.

https://www.ft.com/content/b232784b-9d84-4bad-b211-1e20732d68ae

USA: Destination fees surge as rising costs creep onto window stickers

Automotive News – Lindsay VanHulle – October 26, 2025, 11:00 AM

Automakers across the U.S. are sharply increasing destination charges—the nonnegotiable delivery fees added to every vehicle purchase—at the fastest pace in at least a decade. Chevrolet, Ford, and Ram recently raised these fees on their flagship pickups from $1,995 to $2,595, more than double what they charged ten years ago. According to Edmunds, average destination fees rose 8.5% in the 2025 model year, reaching $1,549—up 27% since 2021. Mass-market brands saw the largest hikes, averaging nearly 8%, compared to 3.6% for luxury makers. Factors driving the increases include inflation, rising transport costs for heavier vehicles, and new tariffs imposed by President Trump in April 2025. Analysts note that automakers use these fees to quietly pass on higher costs without directly raising sticker prices. Stellantis now has the highest average fee at $2,120, followed by Porsche, Ford, and GM, while BMW and Mercedes-Benz remain below average. Volkswagen, Mazda, Nissan, and Hyundai have all raised charges between $50 and $200 this year. Automakers justify the hikes as reflecting logistics and tariff costs, but the pattern underscores broader inflationary pressure in the auto sector. Destination fees, once a minor line item, have become a key lever for maintaining profit margins while keeping vehicle base prices competitive.

https://www.autonews.com/manufacturing/an-destination-fee-increases-1026

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François ROUDIER