Apple to Manufacture iPhone 13 in India, Pushing Production to 50%

Sophie Webster, Tech Times 27 April 2022, 11:04 am

The iPhone production in India increased 50% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2022, according to a new market intelligence data.

The sales within the country are also growing, despite the fact that the average selling prices are increasing through the sale of more premium models.

iPhone Production in India Continues to Grow

While Apple limited the iPhones made in India and only allowed older models to be made in the country, the tech giant confirmed that the iPhone 13 officially joined the lineup of locally produced devices earlier this month.

According to Business Standard, Apple shipped almost 1 million iPhones made in India in the first quarter of 2022. That is a massive jump of 50% year-on-year in iPhone shipments from within the country.

Prabhu Ram, the Head-Industry Intelligence Group at CMR, told IANS that the contribution of newer generation iPhones like the iPhone 13 is almost equal to iPhone 12.

Also Read: Apple Watch India Launch: Options, Prices, And Availability

Apple's enhanced and diversified iPhone production capabilities in India, together with the aggressive retail initiatives, continue to contribute to its strong growth momentum in the country.

In early April, the tech giant confirmed that it had begun manufacturing its top-selling iPhone 13 smartphone in the country.

The lead supplier of Apple in India, Foxconn, is responsible for all of the iPhone 13 production, while Wistron makes the iPhone 12 and iPhone SE.

The iPhone 13 production in India was delayed by the disturbing revelations about the working conditions at one Foxconn plant, thus resulting in Apple ordering the facility to be closed until the issues were resolved.

A Foxconn plant was shut down after Apple acted on complaints about the working conditions. It was at this plant that iPhone 13 production was due to begin in January, plans which had to be delayed after Apple put the plant on probation until the issues were resolved.

Meanwhile, on the sales side, Apple used to rely on steep discounting to sell iPhones in the price-sensitive market, but CMR says that this has now changed, with the tech giant increasingly relying on premium product appeal, according to 9to5Mac.

iPhone 13 Production in India

According to Reuters, Apple chose India as the new manufacturer of the iPhone 13 because it does not want to rely heavily on China, especially since the production was affected after the country went on lockdown.

India has become the home of production for several of the tech giant's products. In 2021, the company started to produce the iPhone 12 in the country, and Apple has plans to start iPad production locally.

Apple has since taken advantage of several government schemes that were aimed to boost the local production of products, offer employment opportunities to locals, and cut down costs. Apple first started manufacturing iPhone SE in India in 2017.

In 2020, Apple launched its online store in the country, offering customers a direct way to buy products directly from the tech giant without having to go through a reseller.

Apple had promised that its first retail store would open in India by the end of 2021, but with that deadline now passed, it remains to be seen how soon an Apple Store will open in the country.

In 2021, Apple India suffered decreased production because the workers were diagnosed with COVID-19.

In March, Apple refused Apple's refurbished iPhone sale request.