EU Commission Takes Tougher Stance on Small Mergers, Probes Qualcomm's Autotalks Chip Deal

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is expected to launch an in-depth investigation into Qualcomm's acquisition of Autotalks, an Israeli chipmaker specializing in auto safety. The deal involves chips for vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications, enabling cars to communicate with their surroundings. The FTC's scrutiny comes amid concerns about corporate consolidation in emerging technologies. The European Commission is also investigating the deal, as it would combine two major suppliers of V2X semiconductors in the European Economic Area. The acquisition has faced opposition from anonymous complainants, including chipmaker MediaTek. Critics worry that Qualcomm's dominance in the V2X market could lead to higher prices, reduced quality, and less innovation in traffic-safety systems for vehicles.