According to a post by Apple Insider, Apple is reportedly in talks with manufacturers to expand iPad production in India.
Apple has reportedly ramped up iPhone production in India to reduce its reliance on China and now plans to expand this to include iPads and AirPod charging cases, according to local publication Benzinga.
Driven by India’s government initiatives to attract manufacturers, Apple is searching for a local partner to produce iPad tablets and wireless charging cases for AirPods, expanding its production beyond iPhones in the country.
Apple previously moved key iPad engineering resources to Vietnam in collaboration with BYD, reportedly due to government restrictions in India. However, the company is now seeking a new local partner to manufacture iPads in the country.
The company is expanding its manufacturing footprint in India. The company’s long-time partner, Jabil, is setting up production of AirPods charging cases at its Indian facilities in Pune, with a targeted start date of early 2025. Testing is currently underway to ensure quality meets Apple’s standards. Additionally, Apple is considering Foxconn for this production.
This move comes alongside the Indian government’s push to boost domestic manufacturing. While a short-lived proposal to restrict laptop imports was implemented in August 2023, it was withdrawn two months later. However, the government’s desire for Apple to manufacture Macs and MacBooks in India remains.
