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China unveils national automotive chip testing platform in Shenzhen
China has launched its first national automotive chip testing platform in Shenzhen, a strategic move to bolster self-reliance in semiconductors amid a global chip shortage fueled by tensions with Nexperia. The facility, jointly developed by state-owned China Reform Holdings and the China Automotive Technology and Research Center, aims to address vulnerabilities in supply chains exposed by the ongoing trade dispute with the Dutch chipmaker, which threatens to disrupt global automotive production lines.
Streamlining chip testing to accelerate innovation
The Shenzhen facility features 13 specialized laboratories equipped with over 80 testing devices, capable of verifying chips against more than 30 automotive standards. Covering nine main categories and 81 subcategories of automotive chips, including intelligent driving systems, smart cockpits, and power semiconductors, the platform consolidates previously fragmented testing resources across China.
"This is a pilot-scale national verification platform covering all nine major categories and 81 subcategories of automotive chips," said Xia Xianzhao, chief expert at the China Automotive Technology and Research Center. The unified platform significantly reduces validation cycles, which previously required separate testing by multiple institutions.
Municipal authorities in Shenzhen noted that the facility will drive the localization of high-end automotive chips. The platform aims to establish standardized evaluation methods and a unified verification framework, laying the groundwork for a national system of automotive chip standards.
A strategic response to global tensions
The platform's launch comes as automakers in Europe and beyond warn of imminent production halts due to chip shortages linked to Nexperia. After the Dutch government took control of the Chinese-owned chipmaker in September over national security concerns, Beijing retaliated by banning exports from Nexperia’s Chinese operations.
The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association has cautioned that several automakers are already facing assembly line shutdowns. Nissan has reported chip supply shortages only sufficient until early November, while Honda has suspended production in Mexico and adjusted operations in the U.S. and Canada.
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has set an ambitious goal for automakers to achieve 100% domestically developed chips by 2027, a sharp increase from the previous target of 25% by 2025. Currently, domestically sourced automotive chips account for about 15% of the market, up from 10% in recent years.