Apple is all set to make the iPhone X and possibly the iPhone XS in India from 2019 onwards.
This has been mentioned in an exclusive media report on Thursday, which also says that the company will be relying on Foxconn and its local manufacturing expertise to assemble the latest, high-end iPhones to be sold in the country.
The Reuters report, quoting sources, believes that Apple for the first time will join hands with the Taiwanese manufacturer to make its products from its Sriperumbudur plant, located in Tamil Nadu. To make this happen, the report says, Foxconn will expand its production plant to facilitate assembling of iPhone in 2019.
Multiple reports earlier this year had suggested that Foxconn will be making the iPhones in the country but Reuters has managed to get the sources to reveal the exact quantum of investment and models that will be put into production.
Foxconn will invest 25 billion Indian rupees ($356 million) to expand the plant, including investment in iPhone productionM C Sampath, Industries Minister, Tamil Nadu to Reuters
Up until now, Apple has been content with assembling of its low-tier devices like the iPhone SE and iPhone 6S in India but Foxconn coming into the picture shows that the Cupertino-based giant is now looking to push on with its ‘bullish’ plans in the world’s second largest mobile market.
Things have been bleak for the company in India, as here it hasn’t been able to push its market share, pulled further down by rising duty costs and product pricing that puts the iPhone XS Max for as high as Rs 1.45 lakh.
According to a recent Counterpoint report, Apple managed to grab 25 percent market share in the premium smartphone segment, which is lead by OnePlus (30 percent) and Samsung (28 percent).
Interestingly, both these brands manufacture their devices in the country itself, helping them cut down on import duty costs, which results in affordable products. Could Apple benefit from this move? Quite possible.
But it’ll take them a while before the results of this supposed make in India reaps them success.
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