 "Looking to diversify from China, Apple gives Tata India iPhone repair business: Report")
Apple has engaged Tata Group to manage repairs for iPhones and MacBook devices in the rapidly expanding Indian market.
The move signals the Indian conglomerate’s increasing role in the Apple’s supply chain, Reuters cited two individuals familiar with the matter as saying.
Tata takes on key role as Apple looks beyond China
With Apple seeking partners beyond China for manufacturing, Tata has swiftly become a key supplier, already assembling iPhones for both local and foreign markets at three facilities in southern India, one of which also produces some iPhone components.
In this latest partnership expansion, Tata is taking over the responsibility from an Indian unit of Taiwan’s Wistron, ICT Service Management Solutions, and will handle after-sales repairs from its Karnataka iPhone assembly campus, both sources revealed.
The market for repairs in India is expected to grow significantly as iPhone sales soar. Counterpoint Research estimates that around 11 million iPhones were sold in India last year, giving Apple a 7 per cent market share, up from just 1 per cent in 2020.
The latest contract award demonstrates Apple’s growing confidence in Tata as it aims to secure more business from the world’s most valuable smartphone company.
Prabhu Ram, a vice president at Cybermedia Research, noted that Tata’s deepening partnership with Apple could lay the groundwork for the US tech giant to sell refurbished devices directly in India, similar to its operations in the United States.
The transition of responsibilities from ICT to Tata is currently underway, according to both sources.
While Apple’s official service centers across India can handle basic repairs, more complex issues will now be shipped to Tata’s facility. However, Wistron’s ICT will continue to service other clients excluding Apple, one of the sources mentioned.
Impact Shorts
View AllAmid the potential threat of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on China, India is also emerging as a favoured destination for iPhone exports. Apple CEO Tim Cook has stated that the majority of iPhones sold in the United States during the June quarter will be manufactured at factories in India.
With inputs from Reuters
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