India is exploring options to bring some of Apple’s iPad production from China to the country, CNBC reported on Tuesday, citing two people familiar with the matter.
Apple is said to be in talks with government officials but no concrete plans have been made yet. However, if the iPhone maker is successful in its plan, it will expand Apple’s footprint in the country.
Earlier this month, Apple said that it has signed a contract with another manufacturer to assemble the latest iPhone 14 series smartphones in India. It has tied up with Taiwanese manufacturer Pegatron. This makes Pegatron the second Apple supplier after Foxconn to start assembling the iPhone 14 in India.
Apple currently has three Taiwanese companies manufacturing iPhones in India, including Foxconn, Wistron and Pegatron. Pegatron started production of the iPhone 12 earlier this year.
The company has a facility in Tamil Nadu which employs 7000 people.
This comes as the company is going through a global shortage, while demand has been on the rise since launching its flagship iPhone 14 series this year.
The crisis comes when China is going through a lockdown following its zero covid policy. This has led to the closure of Apple’s assembling facilities in Zhengzhou, which had been the company’s largest factory in the world.
Meanwhile, in India, Rajeev Chandrasekaran, junior IT minister, tweeted in October that he contacted the company regarding the growing shortage of iPhone 14 Pro in Indian markets and was assured of an early resolution by the company.
I have spoken to apple and they have said that the demand for iphone14 is being met with products from India as well, the demand for iphone14 pro has increased and is facing a supply shortage which they are addressing
Private sales are probably an “alternative” supply channel. https://t.co/wLxJdxbFi9
– Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 (@Rajeev_GoI) October 26, 2022
