Tata Group to Begin Assembling iPhones in India
Key Takeaways
- Tata Group acquires Wistron's Indian iPhone assembly line for $125 million
- First time an Indian company will assemble iPhones locally
- Part of Apple's strategy to move 25% of production to India by 2025
The back of many iPhones bears the phrase 'Designed by Apple in California Assembled in China,' but India has also been quietly assembling iPhones since the iPhone SE launch. Now, a major shift is underway as the Tata Group, through its Tata Electronics division, has purchased Wistron’s Indian iPhone assembly operations for $125 million, including an $550 million inter-company loan to Wistron India.
This acquisition gives Tata control over a 44-acre facility in Kolar district near Bengaluru, featuring eight production lines that previously handled the assembly of iPhone 12 and iPhone 14 models. The move represents a historic moment for India, as it is the first time an Indian company will be fully responsible for iPhone assembly.
Apple has been gradually increasing its manufacturing presence in India, aiming to shift 25 percent of its global iPhone production there by 2025. This strategy seeks to diversify Apple’s supply chain, particularly after disruptions experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analysts suggest that Tata Electronics, along with existing partners Foxconn and Pegatron, could begin producing the iPhone 17 as early as late 2024, ahead of its expected 2025 launch.
The Tata Group, India’s largest business conglomerate, reported $150 billion in revenue for the fiscal year 2022–23 and employs over a million people across 29 publicly listed enterprises with a market capitalization of $300 billion. This development may encourage other global companies to consider India for their manufacturing needs, positioning the country as an attractive destination for high-tech production.
