Tata Group has made an unprecedented move, taking steps to become the first Indian company to manufacture Apple iPhones, following the acquisition of a Wistron Corporation plant in South India. Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar made the announcement on social media platform X, disclosing that the Tata Group would commence iPhone production for both domestic and global markets after acquiring the Wistron facility for $125 million.
In a significant development, Wistron’s board has greenlit the sale of its subsidiary, Wistron InfoComm Manufacturing (India) Private Ltd., to Tata. The intent is to advance Apple’s iPhone production, which is primarily overseen by Taiwanese giants like Pegatron Corp. and Foxconn Technology Group.
Chandrasekhar shared the news on X, commending Tata’s swift progress in initiating iPhone manufacturing operations in India and acknowledging the involvement of Indian companies in expanding Apple’s global supply chain.
After all parties sign the relevant agreements, the acquisition will proceed, subject to obtaining necessary approvals. The introduction of Indian-made iPhones aims to diversify Apple’s manufacturing beyond China and solidify its technological presence in India, aligning with the country’s push for domestic production. Apple commenced iPhone assembly in India in 2017 through partnerships with Wistron and later Foxconn.
Furthermore, the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme in India for large-scale electronics manufacturing has exceeded expectations, attracting investments of Rs 6,887 crore by June 2023, surpassing the ministry’s initial target of Rs 5,488 crore by the end of the fiscal year 2024. The PLI scheme offers financial incentives to firms manufacturing goods across various sectors, focusing on domestic manufacturing, export growth, and employment generation. This move aligns with Tata’s broader agenda to expand its presence in electronics manufacturing and enter chipmaking.
