In another fillip to PM Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ vision, the US-based tech giant Apple is reportedly planning to manufacture its iPhone 12 Series in India. The ‘Made in India’ iPhone 12 models would be ready by mid-2021.
According to a Business Standard report, Apple’s Taiwanese contract manufacturer Wistron will start manufacturing the new iPhones in its Narasapura plant near Bengaluru. Further, the company is also planning to hire 10,000 employees and invest INR 2,900 Cr in the new plant. The manufacturing facility is expected to be fully operational by October this year.
iPhone 12 is the latest of the company’s offerings to be manufactured in India. The company started manufacturing phones in India for the first time in 2017, with the iPhone SE at Bengaluru’s Wistron facility. It was later expanded to another contract manufacturer, Foxconn’s plant in Chennai. Last year in October, Apple started manufacturing the iPhone XR locally in India.
Reports suggest that a revamped channel strategy and local manufacturing will ensure duty benefits and much-streamlined operations for Apple in the country.
In August last year, Apple announced its plan of investing $13 Mn (INR 1000 Cr) in India to launch an online retail platform and open three-company owned stores in India. The upcoming Apple Stores will be launched in Mumbai, followed by Delhi.