Tata's fourth iPhone assembly plant likely to start in November: Report

Apple started production in India just four years ago but has expanded rapidly.

Tech major Apple Inc is all set to get its fourth iPhone assembly unit in India, which is being built by Tata Electronics and is likely to start production in November, the Business Standard has reported.

The factory in Tamil Nadu's Hosur would be the second iPhone assembly plant for the Indian company after its acquisition of Taiwanese EMS player Wistron’s unit, which is in neighbouring Karanataka.

Preparations are underway to launch iPhones from the 250-acre plant, which has a components unit set by the Tatas three years ago, the report added.

Tata Electronics is likely to invest Rs 6,000 crore in the plant and has invested a similar amount in the components unit, the report stated.

Moneycontrol couldn't independently verify the report.

Emails sent to Tata Electronics and Apple by the publication did not elicit a response.

These facilities would employ more than 50,000 workers, mostly women. The assembly plan alone will add 35,000-40,000 workers making it the largest facility in India.

Apple is increasingly looking to diversify its supply chain beyond China amid geopolitical tensions between China and the US.

Apple's iPhone contract manufacturers in India include Tata, Pegatron and Foxconn. Tata is key to Apple's growing ambitions in India, which analysts estimate will contribute 20-25 percent, from 12-14 percent in the previous year, to total iPhone shipments this year.

Apple started production in India just four years ago but has expanded rapidly. The fourth factory would enable its target of shifting 10 percent of global iPhone manufacturing capacity by 2025-26 by availing the government’s production-linked incentive scheme.