Tata Electronics is working to develop sophisticated and high-precision complex machines that will be used to produce the cast of iPhones, as reported by the Economic Times.
Tata Group is already an iPhone assembler. The company acquired an iPhone factory from Taiwan’s Wistron Corp. (a Taiwanese electronics manufacturer). To strengthen its partnership with Apple, the company is also in talks to build an iPhone production plant.
As per the report, Tata has partnered with two Indian manufacturers to develop capabilities for iPhone casing production. These manufacturing goods were so far imported from China. The move by Tata will also help it reduce its dependency on China.
China is a major market producer, with Foxconn, an electronics industry in China, creating around 60 per cent of the iPhones. Apple has been betting big in India. As per a CNBC report, in May last year, Apple CEO Tim Cook said, “There are a lot of people coming into the middle class, and I really feel that India is at a tipping point, and it’s great to be there.”
Speaking on the basis of anonymity, a person told the Economic Times, "The Tata Group is testing these machines in a staged manner at their Hosur facility.” The person further added, “Part of the objective is to grow more of its local capability because the company is not just looking to build enclosures; it wants to develop the ecosystem in the country.”
The Hosur plant by Tata Group in Tamil Nadu manufactures several electronic components, including castings for smart phones and iPhones. It has more than 10,000 people employed. As per an official speaking to the Economic Times, the group has around 40 lines at the facility. Similarly, as of now, the company won’t be focusing on exporting; however, it is a part of the group’s agenda, as per the report.
