Chinese smartphone maker Oppo shuts down semiconductor design subsidiary due to "US sanctions impact"

Chinese smartphone company Oppo suddenly announced the closure of its semiconductor design subsidiary.

On the 12th, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that Oppo announced in a brief statement that it would shut down its semiconductor design subsidiary, Zeku, due to global economic and smartphone market uncertainties.

Oppo established Zeku in 2019 to design semiconductors for use in its own devices. Just two weeks ago, Zeku posted advertisements on Chinese social media seeking dozens of new employees, including semiconductor engineers, in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Xi'an.

The sudden closure is being analyzed as a consequence of U.S. semiconductor export controls targeting China. SCMP pointed out, "The news of Zeku's closure comes amid the difficult situation faced by Chinese fabless semiconductor companies due to the U.S.'s strengthened export controls on advanced semiconductors," adding, "Zeku's closure is another casualty occurring while China is striving for semiconductor self-reliance."

Due to the U.S.'s advanced semiconductor export controls aimed at China, Chinese fabless companies are finding it increasingly difficult to find manufacturers for the semiconductors they design. In October last year, the U.S. announced export control measures that effectively ban the export of semiconductor equipment to Chinese companies producing ▲ DRAM below 18nm (nanometers, one billionth of a meter) ▲ NAND flash with 128 layers or more ▲ logic chips below 14nm.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.