HIGHLIGHTS
* The upcoming iPhone 15 series of smartphones will reportedly be assembled in India.
* Tata Group is said to make the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Plus models in the country.
* The iPhone 15 Pro series will still be made by Foxconn, Pegatron, and Luxshare.
* Tata Group has reportedly acquired Wistron’s production line in India.
* Tata Group will make two iPhone 15 models in India.
* The shift indicates Apple’s production relocation plans beyond China.
* Tata’s share of assembly orders for various iPhone models is 5 per cent in 2023.
* Tata has received “only small orders” for iPhone 15 models that are expected to launch in September.
Apple is all set to launch its new iPhone 15 series later this year. Like the iPhone 14 series the iPhone 15 series is also said to have four smartphones — iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Presently, the company has a contract to manufacture iPhones in India with three companies — Foxconn, Pegatron and Wistron. Now a new report has surfaced online suggesting that the Cupertino-based tech giant has entered into a fourth manufacturing contract.
There is still plenty of time left for the iPhone 15 series to launch, but ahead of the official release, several leaks and rumours have started popping up on the internet. While the specifications, features, and design of the iPhone 15 series models have constantly been leaking out, a new report has come up, which suggests a pretty interesting and welcome move on Apple’s part. If the report is to be believed, the iPhone 15 series smartphones (iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus) will be assembled in India, as Tata Group has allegedly acquired the rights for the distribution of the iPhone 15 series assembly orders in the country.
iPhone 15 series to be made in India?
According to a new report by TrendForce, Tata Group will assemble a small chunk of the iPhone 15 series smartphones in India. The conglomerate has recently acquired Wistron, so it now has got the company’s India iPhone production line. Tata Group, therefore, will reportedly become the new contract partner for iPhone manufacturing in India, and the fourth manufacturer for Apple after Foxconn, Pegatron, and Luxshare.
The report suggests that Tata Group will assemble 5 percent of Apple’s iPhone 15 series phones, while the major share will still remain with Foxconn, Luxshare, and Pegatron. Foxconn will still have 70 percent of assembly orders for the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max, while it will have 60 percent of orders for the iPhone 15 Plus.
As for Luxshare, it will have 25 percent of iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro Max orders. Speaking of Pegatron, it will have 35 percent of iPhone 15 Plus orders and 30 percent of iPhone 15 Pro orders. Lastly, Tata Groups will not have any share in the iPhone 15 Pro lineup (iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max). That said, this could very well be a pilot move from Apple, and Tata Group might start manufacturing a higher percentage of iPhones going forward.
Apple partners with Tata Group
According to TrendForce, Apple is expected to enter into a contract with Tata Group for the manufacturing of iPhones in India. The report further states that Tata Group will initially manufacture the upcoming iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. “Due to geopolitical and pandemic, Apple has been accelerating the diversification of its supply sources, with India being the most well-known case for such transfer. According to TrendForce, India’s Tata Group is expected to become the fourth iPhone assembler for Apple,” mentioned the report.
Why Apple may enter in a contract with Tata Group
The report further adds that Apple may enter into a contract with Tata Group because it is the largest conglomerate in India and this suggests that India will be the first to receive shipments of the new iPhone series. Also, Tata’s ability to manufacture iPhones is attributed to their acquisition of Wistron’s Indian production line, resulting in Wistron’s departure from the iPhone assembly industry.
According to a recent report by Bloomberg News, India is becoming increasingly important to Apple’s strategy to move its device and component production away from China due to diplomatic tensions between Washington and Beijing, as well as supply chain disruptions caused by strict Covid policies. In 2021, only one percent of Apple’s iPhones were produced in India, but that number has increased to seven percent in the past year. Apple is also reportedly planning to manufacture iPads and iPods in India.
Beginning of ‘Made in India’ iPhones
Apple made its foray into iPhone manufacturing in India back in 2017, starting with the production of the first-generation iPhone SE. Since then, the company has expanded its manufacturing in India and now produces several top-selling iPhone models, including the iPhone 12, iPhone 13, and the latest iPhone 14.
Faqs
1) iPhone 15, 15 Plus to be Made in India by Tata Group: Report
Ans) iPhone 15 rumours and leaks have been floating on the web for a while. Apple is rumoured to launch four new iPhones this year at the September event. Most of the leaks have been talking about the hardware specifications and features of the iPhone 15 series. The leaks suggest that all four iPhones are getting upgrades in many areas. A new iPhone 15-related report that might benefit India has surfaced online.
According to a new report by TrendForce, Apple is shake hands with the Tata Group to assemble iPhone 15 series in india. The report stated that the Tata Group will assemble two out of the four iPhones launching later this year in India. This will make the Tata Group the fourth contract manufacturer for Apple after Foxconn, Pegatron, and Luxshare.
Tata Group has reportedly acquired Wistron’s Indian production line, which has resulted in India’s largest conglomerate to manufacture the iPhone 15 series. Wistron reportedly is gearing up for its exit from the Indian market. Therefore, since Tata has acquired the company’s production line, it will become the new contract partner for iPhone manufacturing in India.
The TrendForce report stated that the Tata Group will assemble a tiny chunk of the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus for Apple in India. The conglomerate will only assemble 5 per cent of Apple’s 2023 iPhone models. Foxconn will have the majority share for the 2023 iPhone production, followed by Pegatron and Luxshare. This could be a pilot move from Apple and if things go as planned, it could pave way for the Tata Group to manufacture a higher percentage of iPhones in 2024.
Foxconn is one of Apple’s oldest contract manufacturers. For the upcoming 2023 lineup, Foxconn is said to manufacture nearly 70 per cent of the total iPhone 15 models for Apple. Luxshare will make about 25 per cent of the supply chain for the baseline model, whereas the Tata Group will assemble the rest five per cent.
Foxconn will assemble nearly 60 per cent of all iPhone 15 Plus models in 2023, followed by Pegatron (35 per cent) and Tata Group (5 per cent). The report also revealed that Foxconn and Pegatron will assemble the 15 Pro models. Foxconn will assemble 70 per cent of the 15 Pro models, whereas Pegatron will manufacture the remaining 30 per cent of units. The top-end 15 Pro Max will be made by Foxconn and Luxshare. Foxconn, again, will assemble the majority here with nearly 70 per cent of the Pro Max models. Luxshare, on the other hand, will make 25 per cent of the production for the highest-end iPhone.
Apple has been reiterating how important India — the world’s second-largest smartphone market — is for the company. Apple has been witnessing growth in terms of volume and revenue in India year-on-year. Despite that, Apple continues to have a minor 5 per cent share in the Indian smartphone market. To strengthen its hold further, the company opened two Apple Stores in India. The first one was opened in Mumbai’s BKC, whereas the second Apple Store is in New Delhi’s Saket area.
2) Apple iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus with better camera, USB-C port likely to be manufactured by Tata Group: Report
Ans) Apple iPhone 15 and Apple iPhone 15 Plus will reportedly be manufactured by Tata Group in India. The Tata Group, which recently bought Wistron’s Indian production line, will produce a small portion of the basic models in the Apple iPhone 15 series, which will make its debut in September of this year.
For those who don’t know, Wistron is one of the major firms that produces iPhones in India. Wistron and Tata Group had been in negotiations for an acquisition in India for quite some time. According to reports, the Tata Group will soon join Foxconn, Pegatron, and Luxshare as Apple’s fourth supplier of iPhones.
A significant improvement over the normal Apple iPhone 14 phones will be the standard Apple iPhone 15 devices. It is anticipated that Dynamic Island, a 48MP camera, a USB-C connector, new colour choices, and a speedier CPU will be included in the Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. Only Pro versions could have extras like a telephoto lens or LiDAR for optical zoom.
The premium iPhone 15 Pro Max would be the only device to support the Periscope lens, which would offer 5–6x optical zoom. The iPhone 15 Pro Max’s Telephoto lens is anticipated to incorporate a periscope lens, enabling up to 6x zoom while taking pictures with the back camera.
India is believed to be the next China for Apple. The Cupertino-based electronics company intends to shift the majority of its production from China to India after spending around 25 years there. The Apple iPhone models are quickly gaining popularity in the Indian market, and the firm is projected to see exponential growth with the creation of official retail locations combined with local manufacture, lower taxes, and a larger market.