Tata to make iPhones in India for domestic and global markets: Rajeev Chandrashekhar

Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, said on Friday that Tata Group will make Apple iPhones in India for domestic and global markets.

"PM'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, Tata will now start making iPhones from India for domestic and global markets from India. Congratulations to the Tata team for taking over Wistron operations. Thank you Wistron for your contributions, and great going for Apple in building a global supply chain from India with Indian companies at its helm," said Chandrasekhar in a post on social media platform X. 

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

Tata Group has acquired the operations of Apple supplier Wistron Corp, confirming this development during a board meeting. This acquisition is expected to enhance India's role in Apple's diversification strategy as the tech giant looks to reduce its dependence on manufacturing in China.

'Local' push 

The move is part of India's effort to boost local manufacturing and is supported by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, which encourages domestic manufacturing, job creation, and exports in various sectors, including electronics. This initiative has contributed to India's emergence as a trusted hub for smartphone manufacturing and exports.

In 2022, Apple exported goods worth $5 billion from India, with plans to produce 25 per cent of its global units in the country over the next four to five years.

Tata Group's entry into electronics production and its acquisition of the Wistron Corp factory in Karnataka are significant milestones in the conglomerate's efforts to expand its presence in manufacturing and e-commerce.

Previously, Tata Group was involved in the production of the iPhone chassis, which forms the metal frame of the device, at its factory in Tamil Nadu.

About Wistron  

Wistron is a global information and communications product supplier headquartered in Taiwan. It has a significant presence in Asia, Europe, and North America, with operational bases for logistics and distribution. Originally, Wistron was the manufacturing division of Acer Inc, but it became an independent entity following a spin-off in the year 2000.

Wistron operates as an Original Design Manufacturer (ODM), specializing in the design and production of a wide range of products. These products are then marketed and sold by other companies under their respective brand names. Wistron's product portfolio includes notebooks, desktop computers, servers, storage solutions, LCD TVs, handheld devices, and various equipment designed for medical applications. As an ODM, Wistron plays a crucial role in the supply chain of various technology companies by manufacturing products to their specifications.