Apple to Accelerate Production of ‘Make in India’ iPhone 15, Exports to Begin Soon: Report

another boost to its Indian manufacturing dream, Apple maker Foxconn is set to start local production of the new generation iPhone 15 at its Sriperumbudur plant near Tamil Nadu faster than ever as the company doubles down on ‘Make in India’. ‘ initiative.

Sources close to the development told IANS that Apple is aiming to ship the locally assembled iPhone 15 as soon as it launches globally in the middle of next month to close the gap between launch and availability and increase its exports from India to other countries. nations.

According to sources, a small batch of “Make in India” iPhone 15 units are likely to be exported to other countries within a short time of its global launch.

Other Apple suppliers in India such as Pegatron and Wistron (which Tata Group is buying) will also assemble the iPhone 15 as soon as possible, they added.

Bloomberg reported the development first.

Last year, Apple began assembling the iPhone 14 at its Foxconn factory in India in September, the first time in years that a new iPhone was assembled within weeks of its global launch in the country.

This time, the deadline has been pushed back almost a month, so that the locally assembled iPhone 15 can go on sale in the country at the global level just before the festive season and can be quickly exported.

Earlier this month, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced that the company has posted a record June quarter in India thanks to strong iPhone sales.

In the company’s fiscal 2023 third-quarter results, Cook said “new store development in India this spring exceeded our expectations.”

To a specific question about India’s potential, Cook said, “You know we had record revenue in India for the June quarter and we had strong double-digit growth. We also opened our first two retail stores during the quarter, and of course it’s early days right now, but they’re exceeding our expectations right now.

He went on to say that the company will continue to work to build the channel and increase investment in its direct-to-consumer offerings in the country.

“We still have a very, very modest, low share of this smartphone market, so I think it’s a huge opportunity for us. And we’re going to put all our efforts into making that happen,” he added.

According to IDC, Apple, which had the highest average selling price (ASP) at $929, grew in April-June in India.

India is now among Apple’s top five markets globally as the iPhone maker continued to lead the premium segment (Rs 45,000 and above).

According to the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), Apple’s market share is expected to cross 50 percent in FY24.