Apple to start manufacturing iPhone 12 in India

Apple beginning to assemble the iPhone 12 in India. Foxconn, a contract manufacturing partner of Apple is assembling the iPhone 12 model. The move underscores how India is emerging as a big production hub for global smartphone makers. To attract global giants, New Delhi has been offering tax benefits to firms that locally produce in India and in recent quarters has significantly increased the perks.

Apple began locally assembling select iPhone models in India in 2017 beginning with the iPhone SE though for the initial years the company’s contract partners locally produced only, older iPhone models in the country. Analysts have estimated that Apple launched its online store in India last year and is working to set up its first physical retail store in the country this year plans to move between seven to 10% of its iPhone production to India as it looks to cut reliance on China.

The iPhone maker suffered a setback in India late last year after a violent protest broke at a facility in Wistron, one of its key manufacturing partners of Apple near Bangalore last year. But the Taiwanese firm appears to have resolved the issues and it was rehiring workers and will soon be resuming production at its facility.

Apple said, Apple is dedicated to making the best products and services in the world to delight our customers. We are proud to be starting production of iPhone 12 in India for our local customers. Unlike several foreign firms that offer their products and services at low prices in India, Apple has focused entirely on a small fraction of the population that can afford to pay big bucks, said Jayanth Kolla, chief analyst at Convergence Catalyst. And while it took several years, Apple has carved out a slice of the market that is growing.