Apple is setting up an iPhone production facility in Bengaluru, plans to start assembly of phones by April

Apple’s commitment to the Indian market has only been reaffirmed by reports that a Taiwanese OEM maker for Apple is setting up shop in Bengaluru. Speaking to The Times of India, various officials have reportedly stated that they’re “seriously” considering Bengaluru as a manufacturing hub for iPhones in India. Wistron, the Taiwanese OEM, is apparently setting up a production facility in Peenya in Bengaluru. Foxconn, a Taiwanese OEM maker and Apple’s biggest contract manufacturer had been scouting for land to set up a manufacturing facility in Maharashtra . Foxconn is however, not looking to tie up only with Apple and has reportedly tied up with OnePlus and Xiaomi for manufacture in India. The Indian government has been incentivising companies to start manufacturing in India for a long time now. Apple in particular has expressed a great deal of interest in the same as it sees India as a very lucrative market for its portfolio. The company is currently in talks to set up official Apple-branded stores and is seeking aid and concessions from the government in this regard. Manufacturing in India will help cut down the price of the iPhone in our country, which is important when you consider that Apple’s iPhones are sold at a significant premium here, compared to the rest of the world. As the TOI report suggests, Apple can possibly save on the 12.5 percent import duty fees that it currently has to pay on its devices. Whether the company will pass on the savings to its customers remains to be seen. The Cupertino-based company has targeted Bengaluru in the past as well, investing in a facility to promote the design and development of iOS, watchOS and tvOS apps.