Tata Group To Make Apple iPhones In India

Electronics and Technology Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Friday announced that Tata Group will start making Apple iPhones in India for domestic and international markets within two and half years.

"@GoI_MeitY stands fully in support in growth of Global Indian Electronics companies that will in turn support global Electronic brands that want to make India their trusted manufacturing and talent partner and to realize PM's goal of making India a global electronics power," Chandrasekhar said on X, formerly Twitter.

He further added, "Congratulations to the Tata team for taking over Wistron operations. Thank you @Wistron for your contributions, and great going for Apple in building a global supply chain from India with Indian companies at its helm. @GoI_MeitY stands fully in support in growth of Global Indian Electronics companies that will in turn support global Electronic brands that want to make India their trusted manufacturing & talent partner and to realize PMs goal of making India a global electronics power 🇮🇳💪".

Taiwan's Wistron Corp., a contract manufacturer for Apple, will sell its India division to the Tata Group for a sum of $125 million.

Pending board approval, the company will transfer its entire ownership stake in Wistron InfoComm Manufacturing (India) Pvt. to Tata Electronics Pvt.

"Wistron Corp. held a Board of Directors Meeting today and granted approval for its subsidiaries, SMS InfoCOmm (Singapore) Pte Ltd and Wistron Hong Kong Limited, to sign the Share Purchase Agreement with Tata Electronics Private Limited (TEPL) for the sale of its 100 per cent indirect stake in Wistron InfoComm Manufacturing (India) Private Limited (WMMI). The transaction price is tentatively estimated at USD 125 million.

Upon confirmation and signature of the relevant agreements by both parties, the deal will proceed to obtain the necessary approvals. Following the completion of the transaction, Wistron will make the required announcement and filings in accordance with applicable regulations," the company said in a statement.

Coming to Tata Group, it is already producing an iPhone chassis, which forms the metallic framework of the device, at its factory located across hundreds of acres of land in Tamil Nadu.

Apple charted an ambitious retail expansion in India in April this year, when it launched two retail outlets here, in Mumbai and Delhi, during Cook's first trip to the country in seven years.

In May this year, Apple CEO Tim Cook said India is an "incredibly exciting market" and a "major focus" for the company, as the iPhone maker highlighted that business in India "set a quarterly record, grew very strong, double-digits year-over-year".

India is at a "tipping point", the top honcho had said during the Q2 earnings call of the company.