In a groundbreaking announcement, India’s Tata Group is set to commence the production of Apple iPhones within the nation for both domestic distribution and global markets, revealed Electronics and Technology Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar today. This monumental move not only highlights India’s burgeoning manufacturing capabilities but also signifies a significant departure from Apple’s historical reliance on predominantly Chinese-manufactured devices, catering to fervent customers worldwide. This initiative firmly establishes Tata Group as India’s premier indigenous iPhone manufacturer.
Minister Chandrasekhar, in a statement posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), emphasized the steadfast support of the Government of India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) toward fostering the growth of Indian electronic companies. This encouragement aims to position India as the trusted hub for manufacturing and a talent partner for global electronic brands, aligning with the Prime Minister’s vision of propelling India into a global electronics powerhouse.
PM @narendramodi Ji’s visionary PLI scheme has already propelled India into becoming a trusted & major hub for smartphone manufacturing and exports.
Now within just two and a half years, @TataCompanies will now start making iPhones from India for domestic and global markets from… pic.twitter.com/kLryhY7pvL
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 (@Rajeev_GoI) October 27, 2023
The acquisition of operations from Apple supplier Wistron Corp, a move estimated at approximately $125 million according to the company’s statement following a board meeting, solidifies Tata Group’s pivotal role in this transformative venture. Minister Chandrasekhar also extended gratitude to Wistron for spearheading the establishment of a global supply chain from India, placing Indian enterprises at its forefront.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s incentives to stimulate local manufacturing, coupled with Apple’s strategic diversification efforts beyond China amid the trade disputes between Washington and Beijing, have significantly elevated India’s importance in Apple’s expansion agenda.
Minister Chandrasekhar lauded PM Modi’s visionary Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, acknowledging its pivotal role in catapulting India into a prominent and trusted hub for smartphone manufacturing and exports. The PLI scheme, introduced in 2021 with an outlay of ₹ 1.97 lakh crore, aims at fostering domestic manufacturing, employment generation, and export support across 14 sectors, including large-scale electronic manufacturing, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and more.
Earlier reports from Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal indicated that Apple had exported goods worth $5 billion (approximately ₹ 41,200 crore) from India in 2022. Furthermore, the company has expressed intentions to produce a quarter of its global units within the country over the next four to five years.
The acquisition of the Wistron Corp factory in Karnataka by Tata Group, India’s largest conglomerate, culminates after nearly a year of negotiations. This strategic move marks Tata Group’s foray into electronic production and e-commerce, complementing its diversified portfolio spanning from salt to cutting-edge tech services.
Already engaged in manufacturing iPhone chassis at its expansive Tamil Nadu facility, the 150-year-old Tata Group has embarked on a transformative journey toward bolstering India’s electronics manufacturing landscape.
Article written by VOLF.TV TEAM , content strategy and produced by Manjeet Bhatt.
