--- title: "A Chipmaker Became a Geopolitical Target and Automakers Are Reeling: TDS" date: "2025-11-24" modified: "2025-11-24" authors: - name: "Adam Ismail" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/adam-ismail" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/a-chipmaker-became-a-geopolitical-target-and-automakers-are-reeling-tds" categories: - "News" - "The Downshift" --- # A Chipmaker Became a Geopolitical Target and Automakers Are Reeling: TDS ![View of a company building with the Nexperia logo.]() *\Bodo Marks/Picture Alliance via Getty Images\* Good morning and welcome to *[The Downshift]()*, or *TDS* for short. In *TDS,* you'll find the biggest automotive headlines of the morning gathered in one article, with short summaries that include links for a deeper dive if you wish. My colleague Joel, our usual *TDS* purveyor, is taking a well-deserved week off ahead of the holiday, so this roundup will be wrangled by the rest of *The Drive* crew in the meantime. Grab a cup of whatever warm, caffeinated liquid you prefer, and let's jump in. 📉 The Chinese owner of Nexperia, a Netherlands-based automotive semiconductor manufacturer, says that the Dutch HQ [has gone radio silent]() following the latest development in [the battle over the company]() last week. After the Dutch government chose to intervene and assume control of the firm, China briefly blocked exports of its chips, preventing its automaker partners—particularly German ones—from completing cars, not unlike the chip shortage caused by the pandemic. After this, the Dutch government stepped back from the conflict. ⏱️ The gas Fiat 500 is back as a hybrid with a manual transmission. Fun as that sounds, it's only got a total of 65 horsepower and takes an astonishing 16.2 seconds to hit 60 mph from a standstill, [per Stellantis' official numbers](), so temper your expectations. 🏭 Mercedes-Benz wants to move 400,000 cars a year in the U.S. (excluding fleet sales), up from last year's total of 325,000 (including fleet sales), [*Automotive News*]() reported following a dealer meeting over the weekend. Retailers feel that Merc's recent focus on high-end, margin-rich AMG and Maybach models surrendered the volume luxury market to BMW and Audi. 🪫 Speaking of BMW, its CEO, Oliver Zipse, is concerned that Germany isn't investing enough in the development of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, according to *[Auto News]()*. BMW still believes in them, citing their value for certain applications compared to internal-combustion and battery-electric cars. 🚙 Land Rover plans to sell the upcoming, third-generation Range Rover Evoque as an EV perhaps exclusively, *[Autocar]()* reports, while retaining its spot as the entry point of the lineup. 🤑 A Gordon Murray S1 LM just became [the most expensive new car sold at auction ever]() last weekend in Las Vegas, ahead of the Formula 1 race. The one-of-five McLaren F1 tribute hypercar went for an eye-popping $20,630,000. 🏁 NASCAR driver Austin Cindric is planning to take his talents to Australian Supercars this coming weekend, for the BP Adelaide Grand Final, where he'll get behind the wheel of a Tickford Racing Ford Mustang. "It's got more overbody downforce," Cindric said to *[Daily Express]()*, comparing the car down under to his NASCAR machine, adding, "even just by looking at the car, it's a lighter car, grippier tyre, so all \[those\] things it does better." *Have feedback on the formatting of TDS? Send us a note: tips@thedrive.com*[]() ## Author Adam is a Senior Editor at The Drive, concentrating on curating and developing the site's slate of daily journalism, from initial pitch to final copy edit. When he's not at his desk researching leads and working with writers, he's testing vehicles or reviewing racing games, new and old. He joined The Drive in 2023, following seven years of covering consumer technology and cars. A car lover and gamer since his earliest memories, Adam came to know the automotive world through video games. First it was Daytona USA, Sega Rally, and Ridge Racer; then came Need For Speed, which inspired an encyclopedic knowledge of '90s supercars, and, of course, Gran Turismo. If not for them, he'd assuredly be doing something else right now. Adam is based in the suburbs outside Philly, where there are ample roads for his hot hatch to stretch its legs. In his car, he's probably listening to indie rock, drum and bass, or Yankees baseball. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()