Apple to Source Chips From Arizona Starting in 2024

[Unregistered 4U]

Nice to hear. Will TSMC build a whole complex for Apple? I think they originally built the plant for more specialized military and communications stuff after being pressured by the U.S. government.

Not JUST for Apple. Apple’s a big customer but an expansion like this can’t be supported with just money from one partner. Especially since fortunes can rise and fall and they wouldn’t want to have Apple disappear with no other companies to produce for.

The diversification that’s happening now is likely due to the fact that Foxconn, TSMC and others are seeing that they have a large number of customers in total that would like to see it, not just because Apple thought it’d be cool.

 

[avz]

Not JUST for Apple. Apple’s a big customer but an expansion like this can’t be supported with just money from one partner. Especially since fortunes can rise and fall and they wouldn’t want to have Apple disappear with no other companies to produce for.

The diversification that’s happening now is likely due to the fact that Foxconn, TSMC and others are seeing that they have a large number of customers in total that would like to see it, not just because Apple thought it’d be cool.

It is probably has something to do with the technological competition between countries as well. US does not want to be left behind and most likely wants to lead as far as the technological advances are concerned. It is very hard to lead when you depend on a goodwill from your rivals.

 

[bobenhaus]

Can't wait for the prices $$$$$$$$

Who cares about the price?!?!! Its an Apple product and I will sell my soul for anything from Apple. Whoohoo!

 

[MrMojo1]

Remember reading about an old interview article with Tim Cook.

"The products we do require really advanced tooling, and the precision that you have to have, the tooling and working with the materials that we do are state of the art. And the tooling skill is very deep here.
In the U.S., you could have a meeting of tooling engineers and I'm not sure we could fill the room. In China, you could fill multiple football fields."

https://www.inc.com/glenn-leibowitz/apple-ceo-tim-cook-this-is-number-1-reason-we-make-iphones-in-china-its-not-what-you-think.html

Labor is one factor why manufacturing won't return to the U.S. as America has higher standards and costs of living. Automation is used a lot in manufacturing so maybe not as much manual labor is needed? It depends.
Another are lots of regulations in America... local, state and federal.. safety, work, environmental, etc...
Buying land is costly to build a factory and then consider the infrastructure needed to support that factory and the workers.

Anything made from a U.S. manufacturer most likely means higher costs to produce which is then passed onto consumers. People already complain about $1K iPhones so imagine if it goes to $2K?
What about Mac computers like a MB Pro? If anyone thinks $2K is pricey, what if it's priced >$3K as the starting point?
Any cost increases will be passed onto consumers at higher prices.
Apple is a corporation & its primary concern is profits for itself and its shareholders.
The Jobs era is gone as Cook is currently in charge. Need to move on.

 

[Gasu E.]

So moving the highly toxic polluting manufacturing from overseas back to the US. Regulation of water and soil pollution made them move overseas. So health of people in US is no longer a concern. I remember when DEC computers closed down their Hudson MA chip factory because of so many health issues it created.

DEC didn't close the Hudson fab; they sold it to Intel. Intel eventually close it, in 2013, but not due to health issues. https://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/2013/09/intel_will_close_massachusetts.html

 

[greenmeanie]

It would be great to buy an iPhone made in the USA when I am ready to upgrade.

Would it still be great at triple the price?

 

[greenmeanie]

Mac Pro chips probably. The trash can Mac Pro was made in the US

Pretty sure it was Assembled in usa not made here except for the case.

 

[varunnrajudg]

So moving the highly toxic polluting manufacturing from overseas back to the US. Regulation of water and soil pollution made them move overseas. So health of people in US is no longer a concern. I remember when DEC computers closed down their Hudson MA chip factory because of so many health issues it created.

I believe Goods/Products needs to manufactured in the same country where it is being used. For the West, China and East Asia are manufacturing hubs. So the health of the Asian people is also a concern. We need to come out of the cheap labour mindset and look at it from a humanity perspective.

 

[_Spinn_]

This is a good move.

 

[extrachrispy]

iPhone - Made in the USA (Make it happen, Apple).

TSMC should plan on opening up a third factory plant in Las Vegas, Nevada since there is no business property tax. This will encourage the costs of the chips low thus leading to a cheaper iPhone.

That is unlikely to be a good idea. A chip fab uses a LOT of water, and Lake Mead is at historic lows.

Similarly, the fab near Phoenix does not make a lot of sense.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

That is unlikely to be a good idea. A chip fab uses a LOT of water, and Lake Mead is at historic lows.

Similarly, the fab near Phoenix does not make a lot of sense.

I think it only requires a LOT of water for a LOT of chips… like an iPhone sized run. From what I’ve read, this site will not likely end up supplying that many chips at it’s peak (more like, 20,000 wafers a month). And, for their modest goals, they may be able to get away with the recycling plan that I’ve heard about.

TSMC Arizona plants mostly PR for Apple, suggests Bloomberg - 9to5Mac

While it is indeed likely that at least one of the TSMC Arizona plants will make chips for Apple, a...

9to5mac.com

 

[AppleFan1998]

Excellent news that Apple is finally moving some production to the US, but hopefully, like what others said that the regulation will be well monitored.