As known previously, Apple has contracted Taiwanese OEM Wistron to manufacture iPhones in India. Assembly operations for iPhone SE will reportedly begin in the next three months
Update: The Ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) has denied Apple's requests seeking duty exemptions on certain components required for assembling iPhones in India. The ministry has said that Apple's exemption requests for its phased manufacturing programme cannot be met and are not feasible.
A fresh report from WSJ suggests that Cupertino based Apple will start manufacturing iPhones in India within the next two months. The report also says that Apple will start assembling its iPhone 6, iPhone 6S models at Taiwanese OEM Wistron’s Bengaluru facility.
A Karnataka government official told the publication that Apple’s India iPhone assembly process will begin in the next four to six weeks. The official went on to say that Apple’s cheaper iPhone SE model will also be assembled at the Wistron facility, but the process for the same will start in about three months.
The unnamed official was quoted saying, "Almost all preparations have been done for launching Apple's first phase project in Bangalore through Wistron." An Apple spokeswoman also added, “We've been working hard to develop our operations in India. We appreciate the constructive and open dialogue we've had with government about further expanding our local operations.”
Apple’s India manufacturing plans have been known for a while now. It was expected that the world’s most valued company will begin iPhone assembly operation in Bengaluru’s Peenya industrial area starting April, following various visits by top Apple officials to India since last year. Apple was however known to be seeking various concessions from the Indian government before starting its Make In India journey. However, as Trade Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told lawmakers on Wednesday that the government has not accepted most of Apple’s demands yet. "We will try to accommodate as much of their demands as possible, but they too appreciate and understand our limitations,” said an official close to the PMO.
When contacted to verify the news, OEM Wistron had previously told Digit that it was “not aware” of any such partnership with Apple, and had dismissed it as “pure speculation.” Beyond Bengaluru, Apple is also reportedly looking to set up shop in New Delhi for manufacturing iPhone components. The company is currently is known to be in negotiations with concerned official in the capital for the same.
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