Your next
iPhone could be made in India. According to a report in ET Now, the iPhone
contract manufacturer Foxconn is in talks with the Indian government to open a
facility to make Apple smartphones in the country.
The
$10-billion facility will be located in Maharashtra, India. The company is said
to be looking for a 1,200 acre of land for the facility.
According
to the report, the plant will come into operation by 2017-end. The report cites
Maharashtra Industry Minister Subhash Desai who revealed Foxconn’s plans
to invest in the state. The development comes shortly after Telecom Minister
Ravi Shankar Prasad revealed that Apple will manufacture only new iPhones in
India.
Foxconn
is reported to have shortlisted Talegaon-Chakan and Khalapur as likely
locations. The company has also taken office space in Mumbai for the production
of Xiaomi and Reliance Jio's Lyf smartphones. Earlier
this year Foxconn confirmed to set up as many as six new manufacturing plants
in India. The
world's largest electronics major is making products for companies such as
Sony, Xiaomi, Gionee and Microsoft at its India units.
It may be
recalled that Apple CEO Tim Cook had held meetings with Prime Minister Narendra
Modi last year. According to reports, the two sides discussed possibility of
greater investments in India along with starting local manufacturing.
Apple’s plans
to tap the budget and mid-range smartphone segment have suffered a major jolt
as the Indian government has turned down its applications to sell its
refurbished iPhones in the country. Refurbished iPhones would have given Apple
to penetrate in the most popular budget and mid-range segment currently Android
players are dominating.
Image Source: 9to5mac
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