China probes Qualcomm’s acquisition of Autotalks
China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has launched an antitrust investigation into Qualcomm’s acquisition of Israeli V2X (vehicle-to-everything) chipmaker Autotalks, alleging Qualcomm may have failed to disclose certain deal details under China’s anti-monopoly laws.
Key points
- Qualcomm agreed to buy Autotalks in 2023 to expand its Snapdragon automotive portfolio into V2X safety and communication technologies.
- The acquisition was previously scrutinized by US and UK regulators and the deal was temporarily paused in early 2024 amid antitrust reviews.
- SAMR’s probe follows a broader pattern of China tightening oversight of foreign tech acquisitions amid ongoing US–China trade and technology negotiations.
- China recently also flagged Nvidia’s Mellanox deal for regulatory breaches — analysts say such actions may be intertwined with wider trade leverage strategies.
Timeline
- 2023 — Qualcomm announces intent to acquire Autotalks to boost automotive Snapdragon solutions.
- Early 2024 — US & UK regulators review the deal; Qualcomm briefly abandons the acquisition.
- Late 2025 — SAMR opens an investigation after the acquisition was finalized, alleging nondisclosure of key deal details.
Why this matters
The probe highlights rising regulatory scrutiny around cross-border tech deals, especially in semiconductors and automotive safety tech, at a sensitive moment in US–China trade relations. Outcomes could affect Qualcomm’s auto roadmap and set precedents for future foreign M&A oversight in China.
Further reading
- MLex: China probes Qualcomm over Autotalks deal
- Calcalist: coverage of Qualcomm-Autotalks developments
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