Tata Developing High-Tech Machines To Manufacture iPhone Casing

Tata Electronics has joined hands with companies in Pune and Bengaluru to internally build high-end precision machines used in producing iPhone casings.

As per ET’s report, these “sophisticated” machines are integral to producing the casings for iPhones — a venture that marks a notable transition from reliance on imports to self-reliance.

Tata expects this to provide crucial momentum to the Indian government’s target of electronics export worth $300 Bn by 2025.

“The Tata Group is testing these machines in a staged manner at their Hosur facility. Part of the objective is to grow more of its local capability because the company is not just looking to build enclosures, it wants to develop the ecosystem in the country. These machines are just one of the many inputs that go into making a component or an enclosure that the company is looking at to reduce its exclusive dependence on certain parts,” the report said, citing a source close to the matter.

Inc42 has sought comments from Tata Electronics on the matter. The story will be updated upon receiving the response.

This comes at a time when Apple has been looking to diversify its production units outside China.

In India, currently, companies that assemble products for Apple are Foxconn, Tata and Pegatron. 

In an effort to ramp up its position as one of the key vendors of Apple in India, the company is also reportedly in advanced talks to acquire majority stakes in Pegatron. The deal is likely to close by May.

In addition, recently, Apple was reported to be in talks with the Murugappa Group and Tata Group’s Titan to assemble and possibly manufacture sub-components for iPhone camera modules. It is pertinent to note that if the deal closes, Murugappa or Titan will be the first Indian company to start manufacturing critical camera components for Apple. 

Currently, Apple makes 14% of its flagship devices in India, which translates to about 1 in 7 iPhones. But the Cupertino-based tech giant was also reported to be planning to shift half of its manufacturing base to India from China. 

According to media reports, Apple’s ecosystem of component makers and suppliers could collectively employ around 5 Lakh people in India directly over the next three years, marking an over three-fold increase.

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