The Bundeskartellamt, Germany's competition authority, has informed the Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) that it does not intend to take action against the planned establishment of an information exchange for semiconductor surplus stocks.

This initiative comes in response to the anticipated shortage of semiconductors from Nexperia, which are used in many vehicle components. The exchange is designed to provide European automotive companies with a tool to offer and request surplus semiconductor stocks.

Andreas Mundt, President of the Bundeskartellamt, stated, 'The planned information exchange can help improve the distribution of goods in the face of the emerging shortage situation and delay production restrictions as much as possible. This would ultimately benefit not only the industry but also end consumers. Due to the specific design of the project, we have no significant antitrust concerns, allowing us to quickly provide the requested indication to the VDA.'

While participating companies, as automotive suppliers or manufacturers, compete with each other in semiconductor procurement, several measures have been implemented to mitigate anti-competitive effects. Offers will be posted anonymously and without price indications, expressions of interest will be communicated bilaterally to the provider, and negotiations between providers and interested parties will occur outside the information exchange. The operation is to be conducted by a neutral party and limited to a maximum of six months.