Apple Could Start Manufacturing Some iPads in India

[Realityck]

Another article with more details.

Troubled union: Apple's China problem

How will Apple branch away from building products in China?

theweek.com

Notice two things to watch from article, first is "india's sketchy infrastructure always held it back, but it has improved", and second is "Apple may be diversifying its supply chain, but other firms, such as Starbucks, are "increasing exposure." Politicians hoping to replicate China's supply chain ought to remember it "started building out the logistical infrastructure in the 1980s." It has taught "hundreds of millions of blue-collar workers to be seasoned manufacturing hands in sophisticated production systems." Replicating that elsewhere requires more than wishful thinking.

So as much as businesses want to diversify their supply chain from China, building out the logistical infrastructure to produce such large quantities along with meeting Apple's quality testing takes a long time to setup it up correctly in other locations. You might remember several MacRumors articles concerning the example of a Chinese display company getting rejected by Apple for several years, then finally performing to Apple's quality specifications.

 

[Realityck]

Why is it that Apple does not start up in Mexico, or South America?
clearly many need jobs in that area…..

Adequate transportation and trained workers would be a concern. Mexico does have several large modern production facilities, but compared to cities of workers in China, they haven't achieved that yet. It's a huge reminder about US politics they focus on wages, bringing manufacturing back, but the cost to setup these huge facilities with a dedicated workforce takes years. It's like a lot of corporations painted themselves into a corner. Even Japanese/Korean companies have large operations in China.

 

[Matsamoto]

I think Apple should start manufacturing iPad in Thailand.
Then we can call it thaipad😉

 

[B.Bain]

Just bring all manufacturing jobs back to the States. I’d rather pay more for products made in the US. It helps build our core foundation.

 

[M5RahuL]

Just bring all manufacturing jobs back to the States. I’d rather pay more for products made in the US. It helps build our core foundation.

May be *you* would, but most folks wouldn't! That ship has long sailed..

As it is, most people in the US likely cannot afford to buy an iPhone outright at current prices!

 

[M5RahuL]

I, like many, are happy to see companies slowly turning away from China! Better late than never!

 

[B.Bain]

May be *you* would, but most folks wouldn't! That ship has long sailed..

As it is, most people in the US likely cannot afford to buy an iPhone outright at current prices!

It’s a luxury item.
Not everyone needs an iPhone or an iPad. There are other alternatives for those who can’t afford one. Plus most cell companies offer free iPhones with a 20-30+ month contract.

I assume most of us have good paying jobs and not making minimum wage. That could be my fallacy. But better jobs for citizens means more people are able to afford buying items considered as luxury.

The US has not been in a great place in manufacturing since the early 2010s. Before I worked at Apple (AHA) I worked 17 years at an aluminum smelter before the 2008 meltdown of the economy.

 

[M5RahuL]

It’s a luxury item.
Not everyone needs an iPhone or an iPad. There are other alternatives for those who can’t afford one. Plus most cell companies offer free iPhones with a 20-30+ month contract.

I assume most of us have good paying jobs and not making minimum wage. That could be my fallacy. But better jobs for citizens means more people are able to afford buying items considered as luxury.

The US has not been in a great place in manufacturing since the early 2010s. Before I worked at Apple (AHA) I worked 17 years at an aluminum smelter before the 2008 meltdown of the economy.

If people prioritized needs Vs wants, the iPhone ( or any smartphone, but mostly thanks to Tim ) and iPads ( at least the Pro ) would never cost as much as it does! But, people ( even at the expense of forgoing certain necessities like saving, striving to live debt free as much as possible, eating clean etc etc ) want said material luxuries to feel a sense of pride, as it may.

I'm all for 'Made in USA', but from a business POV, I don't foresee that happening at least en masse.

 

[racerhomie]

I would not purchase any iPhone made in India. In terms of quality, made in China or Vietnam is more reasonable.

Even iPhones sold in Japan and other regions are being made in India. This is just assembly of devices.Not anything complicated

 

[blazerunner]

This is great news. But will they lower their ridiculous iPad prices in India? Balls!

You think their 3 trillion dollar market cap is enough for them? LOL, Apple didnt get that rich by pricing their products FAIRLY.

 

[Benjamin Nabulsi]

Apple doesn't learn, they should bring it back to the US. I'm not buying a new iPad for a while after this.

 

[Realityck]

You think their 3 trillion dollar market cap is enough for them? LOL, Apple didnt get that rich by pricing their products FAIRLY.

Apple's current market capitalization is $2.332 T. Apple Enterprise Value: 2.423T for Dec. 2, 2022
We are still nursing our wounds from that bear marketplace from more than a year ago.

Investors should not be carried away with the price per share because it is one of the common misconceptions regarding a good indicator of the size of a company. A company can be very large and not have stock worth that much. Look what happened to market capitalization of Microsoft, Google, Meta this last year.

 

[JapanApple]

I would not purchase any iPhone made in India. In terms of quality, made in China or Vietnam is more reasonable.

This is what they said about china years ago.

 

[jimbobb24]

I hope the 21st century belongs to a free democratic India. Good for them and I hope things continue to go their way.

 

[jimbobb24]

Just bring all manufacturing jobs back to the States. I’d rather pay more for products made in the US. It helps build our core foundation.

We can do that. We would just have to remove a lot of regulations that make it too expensive to hire US workers. This is a self inflicted wound all the way around.

 

[svish]

Excellent news. Hoping to see it happen very soon.

 

[mannyvel]

"India, do me the needful!" - Apple

 

[aleksander]

One Step closer to Apple dropping China! ALL Manufacturing should stop in China especially with the work conditions lately!

All manufacturing should stop in those lawless states and it would also include India (both China and India are closing ties with Russia ATM) but but but cheap labor.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Adequate transportation and trained workers would be a concern. Mexico does have several large modern production facilities, but compared to cities of workers in China, they haven't achieved that yet. It's a huge reminder about US politics they focus on wages, bringing manufacturing back, but the cost to setup these huge facilities with a dedicated workforce takes years. It's like a lot of corporations painted themselves into a corner. Even Japanese/Korean companies have large operations in China.

Just on the other side of the Mexico border by San Diego, there are huge manufacturing facilities. Transport back to the US is just a few miles via truck. Seems a lot cheaper than flying everything from China. I think setting up manufacturing in Mexico right along the border would be a smart move that would employ both Americans and Mexicans.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

We can do that. We would just have to remove a lot of regulations that make it too expensive to hire US workers. This is a self inflicted wound all the way around.

Regulations like healthcare, decent wages, maternity/paternity leave, unions, etc? You mean that stuff?

 

[richierich123]

Is India any better than China? They pay their workers terrible wages and India seems more interested in partnering with Russia.

India is way better my friend. Just be aware of the World news.

 

[BipedalOS]

I thought this was already happening?

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

India is way better my friend. Just be aware of the World news.

Russia supplies India with it's military arms. I'd say they're in bed with each other. Their minimum wage is about $2USD per day. Is there other world news I'm missing?

 

[xnxk]

India is way better my friend. Just be aware of the World news.

Indian resell the oil from Russia to western countries. Why you feel India is friend? Politics are just politics. It's nothing to do with consumer electrinos.

 

[Aniruddh]

Russia supplies India with it's military arms. I'd say they're in bed with each other. Their minimum wage is about $2USD per day. Is there other world news I'm missing?

India purchases military weapons from almost every country that manufactures them. Be it the US, France, Israel, or Russia. India has the right to choose the country it purchases its weapons from. It's a sovereign nation, remember?