On Thursday, the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) made an announcement stating its intention to establish a provisional information - sharing platform via a neutral third - party entity. The primary goal of this move is to assist automobile manufacturers and suppliers in minimizing the risks associated with chip shortages. In the context of the automotive industry, chips play a crucial role in various modern vehicle functions, from advanced driver - assistance systems to infotainment. A shortage of chips can severely disrupt production lines and delay vehicle deliveries. This proposed platform has already obtained the green light from Germany's antitrust authorities. It enables companies to share information regarding the production capacity of Nexperia chips in an anonymous manner. Moreover, any related negotiations are designed to occur outside the platform. This approach ensures that while valuable information is exchanged to address the chip shortage issue, it also adheres to antitrust regulations, preventing any potential anti - competitive behavior.