Tata's Partnership With Apple Archives ~ My Mobile India

HIGHLIGHTS * Tata Group has begun assembling Apple iPhones at Wistron’s Narasapura factory. * Tata Group is the fourth company to assemble iPhones in the country, and the first Indian company to do so. * There is no official confirmation from Tata or Apple regarding initiating iPhone manufacturing. According to a report from TOI, the Tata Group has reportedly initiated the production of Apple iPhones in India. To expand its manufacturing capacity, Tata acquired the Narasapura plant near Bengaluru from Taiwanese company Wistron. In order to make more iPhones in the country, the Tata Group is said to have started assembling Apple iPhones after acquiring the Narasapura plant near Bengaluru from Taiwanese giant Wistron, as per a TOI report. This comes days after Apple CEO Tim Cook visited N Chandrasekaran, the chairman of Tata Sons, during the former’s April visit to India for the opening of the much-anticipated Apple Stores. Tata's Partnership With Apple According to the report, the Tata Group has begun manufacturing iPhones at a Wistron facility near Bengaluru. Specifically, iPhones will be produced at Wistron's Narasapura factory in the Kolar district of Karnataka. The report also indicates that Tata is in the process of acquiring the factory. Neither Tata nor Apple have officially confirmed the commencement of iPhone manufacturing in India. Assuming the information is accurate, Tata would become the fourth manufacturer for Apple in the country, joining Foxconn, Pegatron, and Luxshare. The report mentions that Tata has acquired Wistron's operations in India as the Taiwanese company is withdrawing from its business in the country. However, there is still uncertainty about whether Wistron will completely exit its Bengaluru operations. This development follows Apple CEO Tim Cook's visit to India in April, where he met with N Chandrasekaran, the chairman of Tata Sons, during the inauguration of Apple Stores in the country. Tata becomes first Indian iPhone manufacturer The report mentioned that the Tata Group is manufacturing iPhones at a Wistron facility located near Bengaluru. To be precise, the tech giant will be producing iPhones at Wistron’s Narasapura factory located in the Kolar district of Karnataka. The report also suggests that Tata Group is in the process of acquiring the factory. There is currently no official confirmation from Tata or Apple regarding the start of iPhone manufacturing operations in India. Assuming the details are accurate, Tata would become the fourth manufacturer for Apple in India, following Foxconn, Pegatron, and Luxshare. As per the report, the Tata group has acquired Wistron’s operations in India as the Taiwanese giant is withdrawing from its business in the country. The report stated that there is still uncertainty over whether Wistron will make a complete exit from the Bengaluru operations. Tata to assemble iPhone 15 in India According to a TrendAsia report, Tata Group has received orders for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. It was stressed in the paper that while Tata’s share of assembly orders for various iPhone models in 2023 is only 5 per cent, it nevertheless illustrates an escalating trend of Apple’s production migration. New Apple iPhones plant near Hyderabad In another development, Apple contract manufacturer Foxconn is investing $500 million (about Rs 4,100 crore) in Hyderabad’s new electronics manufacturing complex, which would become the fourth iPhone manufacturing facility in India. Currently, iPhones are assembled at Pegatron and Foxconn’s facilities in Tamil Nadu and Wistron’s in Karanataka, which Tata has taken over. Luxshare has also entered India to manufacture hearables and wearables. This week, the Foxconn Interconnect Technology facility’s groundbreaking ceremony was held at Kongara Kalan in Hyderabad. Meanwhile, Apple is all set to unveil the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max in the second half of 2023. The company has not yet revealed any specific launch timeline, but we can expect it to happen in September or October. Faqs 1) How is New iPhone Plant in Hyderabad? Ans) In a new development, Foxconn, an Apple contract manufacturer, is investing $500 million (approximately ₹4,100 crore) in Hyderabad's new electronics manufacturing complex. This complex will become the fourth iPhone manufacturing facility in India. Currently, iPhones are assembled at Pegatron and Foxconn's facilities in Tamil Nadu, Wistron's facility in Karnataka (now acquired by Tata), and Luxshare's facility. In the second half of 2023, Apple is preparing to introduce the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Although the company has not disclosed a specific launch timeline, it is anticipated to occur in September or October. 2) At Tata's iPhone plant in Hosur, Make in India is still a distant dream.Details? Ans) Key components of iPhones that are “partially” assembled in the Tata Electronics casing plant in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, cross the Indian border twice or sometimes even thrice, before they are finally knit together, as per people directly associated with the supply chain and manufacturing process. In fact, almost 90% components used for Apple phones by Tata are sourced from Mainland China, even as Apple looks to shift manufacturing to India. Tatas are the only homegrown company that has been shortlisted by Apple to be its vendor as the world’s most valuable company looks to diversify its manufacturing away from China – a market that today contributes a fifth of its revenues from domestic sales alone. As of now, the Tatas are making a semi-finished iPhone SE model in India. But trial runs for part assembly of the soon-to-be-launched iPhone 15 have begun at the Hosur facility, said people aware of the development. Only Apple’s old-time vendors such as Foxconn, Pegatron and Wistron manufacture “end-to-end” phones in India. In FY23, India accounted for 5% of iPhone’s total global production and exported phones worth $5 billion, a near four-fold surge compared with a year ago. Also Read: Apple iPhone 15 & iPhone 15 Plus to be manufactured (made) in India by Tata Group: Report Also Read: Apple accused of hiding defective iPhone batteries, faces possible $2 billion lawsuit- ‘throttling’ millions of iPhones

Tata’s Partnership With Apple

Tata starts manufacturing iPhones near Bengaluru; 4th iPhone plant in India to be set up near Hyderabad