China Launches Antitrust Probe into Qualcomm Over Autotalks Acquisition Failure to File Declaration

China’s State Administration for Market Regulation has announced the launch of an antitrust investigation into Qualcomm over its acquisition of Autotalks, after the company allegedly failed to file a mandatory operator concentration declaration ahead of the deal. The probe points to potential violations of China’s Anti-Monopoly Law as regulators scrutinise cross-border deals amid heightened U.S.–China tensions.

The transaction, which originated in May 2023 when Qualcomm Technologies announced plans to acquire Autotalks, was valued at an estimated $350–400 million and aimed to bolster Qualcomm’s vehicle-to-everything (V2X) capabilities.

Regulators in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union had already shown concern about monopolistic risks, and the original deal was delayed and then suspended in early 2024 before being revived in June 2025, when Qualcomm reportedly completed the acquisition for a considerably reduced sum of $80–90 million.

According to SAMR’s statement, the failure to submit a formal concentration filing prior to finalising the acquisition constitutes procedural noncompliance and has prompted the opening of a case for investigation, with no enforcement timeline disclosed.