Apple Supplier Foxconn in Talks to Assemble iPad at Its Tamil Nadu Plant: Report

Foxconn is reportedly planning to assemble Apple's iPad at its Sriperumbudur facility in Tamil Nadu.

Written by Nithya P Nair, Edited by Siddharth Suvarna | Updated: 26 July 2024 17:39 IST

Apple Supplier Foxconn in Talks to Assemble iPad at Its Tamil Nadu Plant: Report

Photo Credit: Reuters

Apple began assembling some of its devices in India a few years ago to reduce its reliance on China

Highlights

Apple is looking to diversify beyond China
Foxconn is also expected to benefit from India's PLI scheme
The assembly of Apple's Mac range of laptops may take longer

Apple supplier Foxconn seems to be eyeing to expand its operation in India. The Taiwan-based company is reportedly evaluating plans to assemble iPad in the country. Until now, Foxconn and other contract manufacturers of Apple in India have assembled only iPhone models. The latest iPhone 15 series was assembled in Foxconn's Chennai factory. In recent years Foxconn rapidly expanded its presence in India by investing in manufacturing facilities in the Southern states.

Foxconn evaluating plans to assemble iPad in India

A report by the Economic Times, citing anonymous sources, states that Foxconn is looking to start assembling iPad units at its Sriperumbudur facility on the outskirts of Chennai in Tamil Nadu. Some rounds of discussions with the government have already reportedly taken place. "Their experience so far has been very good, and they are coming full force. They will double what they have in the next few years, which includes iPhone, iPads and some other products too” the report quotes the source as saying.

Production of Apple's flagship tablets is expected to be feasible in India as the capabilities required to produce the tablet are similar to those for smartphone assembly. The assembly of Apple's MacBook range of laptops may take longer due to their smaller production volume.

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Foxconn is also expected to benefit from India's production-linked incentives (PLI) scheme as it increases its investments in India.

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Apple's plans to widen the portfolio of products assembled in India aligns with the company's efforts to manufacture more devices outside China. Apple shifted a portion of its iPad development to Vietnam last year. It will reportedly start looking for a manufacturing partner in India to make iPad models in the country. The company is also said to be looking to increase production of components for AirPods wireless charging cases through Jabil in India. Pegatron and Tata Electronics are Apple's major suppliers in India.

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Further reading: Apple, Foxconn, iPad

Nithya P Nair

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Nithya P Nair is a journalist with more than five years of experience in digital journalism. She specialises in business and technology beats. A foodie at heart, Nithya loves exploring new places (read cuisines) and sneaking in Malayalam movie dialogues to spice up conversations. More