Amid Rising China’s Disputes with the US, Apple may start iPhone14 production in India: Report
New Delhi: In the middle of rising disputes between China and the US over the Taiwan issue, the US-based company ‘Apple’ may shift its full-fledged business to India. The government of India is working to make the economy of the nation $5 trillion by boosting production in the country, providing better infrastructure for business companies, a hike in export, and fewer imports in the country.
“Apple Inc plans to start manufacturing iPhone 14 in India about two months after the product’s initial release in China,” says a media report.
The Apple iPhone users or buyers who are planning to purchase a new iPhone-14 after its launch should wait a few weeks more as Apple company may start production of the iPhone-14 in India after the product’s initial release in China.
The company has been working with suppliers to ramp up production in India and shorten the lag in manufacturing new iPhones from the typical six to nine months for previous launches, the report said citing people familiar with the matter.
Earlier media reported that Apple could be evaluating shipping its upcoming iPhone 14 from India, as the US smartphone company looks to mitigate geopolitical risks on supply efficiency by setting up production sites outside China.
While in the short term, India’s iPhone capacities/shipments still have a considerable gap with China, it is an important milestone for Apple in building a non-Chinese iPhone production site. The US-based company has been gradually ramping up the production of iPhones in India. Currently, its devices are manufactured in India by three contract manufacturers — Foxconn (Hon Hai), Wistron, and Pegatron.
The three Apple partners are part of the Indian government’s production-linked incentive scheme for mobile manufacturing. They need to make products worth a minimum of Rs 8,000 crore each this year to get the incentives.
Apple has long made most of its iPhones in China and has been seeking alternatives amid the Chinese government’s clashes with the US and other factors including recent lockdowns to curb the spread of the virus.
Foxconn Technology reportedly studied the process of shipping components from China and assembling the iPhone 14 device at its plant outside Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Apple and Foxconn ultimately determined a simultaneous start in India and China isn’t realistic this year, although it remains a long-term goal, said the people.
(Vinayak)
