Currently, Apple manufactures iPhone SE (2nd generation) and 5.4-inch mini and 6.1-inch base iPhone 12 models in India. It is reported that the tech giant wants to move 10% of iPhone production to the country to reduce reliance on China. A new report claims that Apple is seeking deeper ties with the country by signing local manufacturers to produce iPhone components.
In September 2020, the company opened its first online store in India and was set to inaugurate its first physical store in Mumbai but the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed that. Despite the setback the company’s supplier Wistron faced at its iPhone manufacturing unit in Narasapura, over employees’ unpaid salary issues, Apple is expanding business in the country.
Apple expected to sign India biggest industrial group in India, Tata Electronics
A paywalled article India’s Business Insider by viewed by Apple Patently states that since 2017 iPhone market in India has grown drastically because the company’s local manufacturing partners pushing ‘Made in India’ iPhones.
In 2017, volume of Apple phones made in India as a percentage of the total sold there stood at only 5 per cent, according to Faisal Kawoosa, founder of Techarc which tracks volume production. In 2020 it had leapt to 60 percent. Today, it’s even higher.
The company’s manufacturing partners have pushed ‘Made in India’ iPhones to 75% in 2021, an amazing leap since 2017. Apple’s iPhones hold about 15% of the Indian market. The rise in local production is directly linked to the incentive plans put forth by India’s government.
As per the report, the Cupertino tech giant is talking with Indian companies to produce components and one of those is Tata Electronics, a sub-group of India’s biggest multinational group of industries, Tata. The new supplier is claimed to manufacture iPhone parts at its facility in Tamil Nadu. And this deal might increase iPhone market in the country.
By manufacturing locally, new iPhone models are now launching faster in India after Apple releases new models. This will carry through to the iPhone 13.
