Tata Group To Handle iPhone Repairs In India, Replacing Wistron’s Unit

In a significant move highlighting its growing partnership with Tata Group, Apple has now entrusted the Indian conglomerate with after-sales repair operations for iPhones and MacBooks in India. According to two sources familiar with the development, the repairs will be handled at Tata's iPhone assembly campus in Karnataka, taking over responsibilities from ICT Service Management Solutions, a unit of Taiwan-based Wistron.

This transition reflects Apple's broader strategy of shifting its manufacturing and support operations away from China. Tata has rapidly become a central supplier for Apple, already assembling iPhones and producing some components.

India, now the world's second-largest smartphone market, is seeing rapid growth in iPhone sales. Apple sold approximately 11 million iPhones in India last year, capturing a 7% market share-up significantly from just 1% in 2020, according to Counterpoint Research. As a result, the demand for repair and after-sales service is expected to surge.

Industry experts suggest this new arrangement may pave the way for Apple to start selling refurbished iPhones in India, replicating its successful U.S. model. "Tata's deepening partnership with Apple could also pave the groundwork for Apple directly selling refurbished devices in India," said Prabhu Ram, Vice President at Cybermedia Research.

While Apple-authorized service centers in India continue to perform basic repairs, more complicated cases will now be forwarded to Tata's facility. Meanwhile, Wistron's ICT unit will maintain repair services for clients other than Apple, one source confirmed.

Neither Apple nor Wistron responded to media inquiries, and Tata Group declined to comment on the development.

This partnership aligns with Apple's larger manufacturing diversification efforts, particularly amid trade tensions with China. Apple CEO Tim Cook recently stated that the majority of iPhones sold in the U.S. during the June quarter would be manufactured in India-marking a significant milestone in India's role as a global iPhone production hub.