Apple Begins Assembling iPhone 15 in Brazil

[MacRumors]

Apple has started assembling the iPhone 15 model in Brazil, shifting in its global manufacturing approach to mitigate high import taxes and diversify its supply chain.

As reported by MacMagazine (via 9to5Mac), the assembly process is being carried out at the Foxconn facility in São Paulo and seeks to reduce the high import fees levied on electronics in Brazil, which significantly inflate the cost of electronics for consumers in the country.

Apple has not yet reduced the retail price of the iPhone 15 in Brazil, where it continues to sell for R$7,300 (approximately $1,460) for the 128GB model. This price is nearly double the device's starting price in the United States. The initiative also is part of Apple's broader strategy to diversify its manufacturing footprint beyond China and reduce its reliance on a single region.

Only the 6.1-inch iPhone 15 model is being assembled in Brazil. The iPhone 15 Plus, Pro, and Pro Max models continue to be imported from China. Brazilian customers can identify whether their iPhone 15 was assembled locally by checking the model number, with units produced in Brazil carrying the identifier "BR/A." In contrast, imported units are denoted by "BE/A" and "BZ/A."

Article Link: Apple Begins Assembling iPhone 15 in Brazil

 

[AppZ.Zero]

Preparation for the chinese agressions against Taiwan?

 

[Skyscraperfan]

In Brazil showing an iPhone in public makes you a prime target for robbery. Foreign tourists are even advised to "look poor" to avoid getting robbed. And poor means poor even by Brazilian standards. So you should basically look like a homeless person.

 

[klasma]

with units produced in Brazil carrying the identifier "BR/A."

They should manufacture the AirPods Max carrying case in Brazil.

 

[StoneJack]

Brazil is a lost place, unfortunately. As almost all of South America except Chile.

 

[trusso]

Brazil is a lost place, unfortunately. As almost all of South America except Chili.

I think you mean Chile. Unless we're talking about the food.

 

[StoneJack]

I think you mean Chile. Unless we're talking about the food.

Sure. Sorry, was waiting for food delivery.

 

[Return Zero]

Let's see... Brazil, India, China. Now they just need Russia and South Africa to get the full BRICS production diversification. I'd love to see them do more assembly in countries that aren't quite as hostile to the US economy and dollar.

 

[Rafael Santos]

In Brazil showing an iPhone in public makes you a prime target for robbery. Foreign tourists are even advised to "look poor" to avoid getting robbed. And poor means poor even by Brazilian standards. So you should basically look like a homeless person.

[citation required]

 

[klasma]

Preparation for the chinese agressions against Taiwan?

IPhones aren’t being assembled in Taiwan. Of course, there may be sanctions preventing assembly in China if China invades Taiwan, but the more serious problem will likely be the electronics manufacturing in Taiwan, which assembly in Brazil wouldn’t mitigate.

 

[erikkfi]

I don’t understand why Apple charges $1400 for an $800 phone in Brazil.

 

[AppZ.Zero]

@klasma
The sanctions against China are exactly the things i wanted to adress.

 

[UltimaKilo]

[citation required]

None needed. All of us know this, it's common knowledge in South America. It's why many of us have two phones, one for going out and another for home.

 

[falkon-engine]

São Paulo is a nice city and so is Rio de Janeiro, beautiful city and beautiful people.

Hopefully this way Brazilians can have access to iPhones at cheaper costs, although I'd argue, that like much of Europe, Android is probably dominant.

 

[Brandon42]

I don’t understand why Apple charges $1400 for an $800 phone in Brazil.

Import duties. Apple is presumably paying about $600 in import duty tax to Brazil.

 

[StoneJack]

I don’t understand why Apple charges $1400 for an $800 phone in Brazil.

That would be US price if Apple made iphones in USA. Thankfully, not yet.

 

[StoneJack]

Let's see... Brazil, India, China. Now they just need Russia and South Africa to get the full BRICS production diversification. I'd love to see them do more assembly in countries that aren't quite as hostile to the US economy and dollar.

I was in Russia, China, India.
None of them are places you'd wish to live in. Even citizen of their countries admit it. They run out of there as soon as they can.

 

[PsykX]

I've been there and the cost of an iPhone in Brazil is just insane.

And worst of all, there's no theft insurance for such product, and it's one of the countries where it's most stolen, so you can't really use it outside unless you have a very old device.

 

[ghanwani]

Yet when you crack open the phone most of it will have come from China. Decoupling from China is a myth. This is just to satisfy local laws to get around tariffs. Like how Chinese car companies will be building cars in Mexico.

 

[klasma]

I don’t understand why Apple charges $1400 for an $800 phone in Brazil.

60% import tax plus 17% VAT. That’s actually 87% or almost $1500, so I may have missed some deduction.

 

[ghanwani]

That would be US price if Apple made iphones in USA. Thankfully, not yet.

If they made it in the US it would cost at least $10,000. They would get hit by increased costs to make it plus loss of economy of scale because there wouldn’t be as large of a market. If it was assembled in the US for the US market with most of it coming from China they might be able to pull off a $2000 price.

 

[klasma]

That would be US price if Apple made iphones in USA. Thankfully, not yet.

I think it would have to be much higher. Maybe $7000 like the original Macintosh.

 

[soyazul]

Brazil is a lost place, unfortunately. As almost all of South America except Chile.

What do you mean? Have you ever been in Brazil, Argentina or Colombia?

 

[GrayFlannel]

Foreign tourists are even advised to "look poor" to avoid getting robbed.

When I did business in Brazil I’d carry a local paper and beverage. The local business would send 2 or 3 vehicles to pick me up and they’d caravan between the airport/hotel and their facility…which was a compound.

 

[StoneJack]

What do you mean? Have you ever been in Brazil, Argentina or Colombia?

You don't have to visit the places to understand them. Just look at their economies and governments, enough said. People are very nice though.