Tim Cook Confirms Yokohama Facility in Japan Will Be Completed by December

[MacRumors]

While on a trip that's taken him to Shenzhen, China and Nintendo's offices in Kyoto, Japan, Apple CEO Tim Cook today met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe discussing topics related to the importance of the country in Apple's ongoing market strategy. Specifically, Cook was said to confirm that an advanced R&D center in Yokohama was on track to complete construction by December (via Xinhua).

The Yokahama facility has been two years in the making, and was originally reported to "center around health." During the meeting, Cook said he and Abe discussed "doing great things together," and reiterated "how important the country is to Apple."

"We talked about the future and doing great things together. I shared with prime minister Abe our love for Japan and how important the country is to Apple," Cook, who is currently on a tour of Asia, was quoted as saying at the prime minister's office following their meeting.

Abe said that he hopes Apple will continue to generate relationships with other companies and manufacturers in Japan, in order to contribute to the overall technological boom in the country. On the same topic, Cook mentioned that Apple is aware of "a number of manufacturers of all sizes" that could result in a mutually beneficial partnership moving forward.

After the original announcement in 2014, Abe described the upcoming Apple facility as "among the largest in Asia," where Apple plans to "conduct the most advanced research and development in Japan." According to sources near the site's development, Apple's plans for Yokohama "are evidence the maker of the ubiquitous iPhone has plans connected to Japan that extend well beyond just end user sales."

Article Link: Tim Cook Confirms Yokohama Facility in Japan Will Be Completed by December

 

[CFreymarc]

Will Apple keep their offices in Shinjuku when the Yokohama facility is complete?

 

[jav6454]

Every other day I hear Apple is opening up new R&D Centers everywhere (Ireland, Vietnam, Thailand, China, Japan). I wonder what those really are.

I don't think they all develop products of some sort. Any insights would be helpful besides "Advanced R&D for great things".

 

[H2SO4]

I hope that means they’re making tyres. Tim needs to get a grip and Yokohamas are good for it.

 

[Karma*Police]

Every other day I hear Apple is opening up new R&D Centers everywhere (Ireland, Vietnam, Thailand, China, Japan). I wonder what those really are.

I don't think they all develop products of some sort. Any insights would be helpful besides "Advanced R&D for great things".

I'd imagine Apple is taking advantage of worldwide talent for various projects as well as for services that require local knowledge and expertise, such as Siri, maps, etc.

 

[69650]

Nissan has a factory in Yokohama. R&D related to the Apple Car?

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

Every other day I hear Apple is opening up new R&D Centers everywhere (Ireland, Vietnam, Thailand, China, Japan). I wonder what those really are.

They are R&D centres. Developing products takes years. Otherwise you're left with something that explodes.

 

[jav6454]

They are R&D centres. Developing products takes years. Otherwise you're left with something that explodes.

How many R&D Centers with over 500 employees do you really need? Mind you much of the external R&D is done by a team of no more than 15 guys in Ive's lab.

 

[B.K.]

Every other day I hear Apple is opening up new R&D Centers everywhere (Ireland, Vietnam, Thailand, China, Japan). I wonder what those really are.

I don't think they all develop products of some sort. Any insights would be helpful besides "Advanced R&D for great things".

When you cant bring your hoardes of cash back to the US for R&D... you set up shop where you can spend your money. The multiple locations probably act as diversification.

 

[thewitt]

When you cant bring your hoardes of cash back to the US for R&D... you set up shop where you can spend your money. The multiple locations probably act as diversification.

Many countries are taking the position that you need a presence there to sell with preferred status. It would not surprise me if some of these deals are just that.

 

[radiology]

Every time I open macrumors and there is an article with TC picture, for some reason I think it is going to be about him stepping down or being demoted. Can someone explain that to me?

 

[Jakexb]

I'm sure there are political benefits to opening centers in various countries.

But also, the world is big and you can't expect every top engineer in the world to pack up and move to Cupertino.

Also lets Apple spend money made in Japan or China within that same country.

 

[gmcalpin]

Every time I open macrumors and there is an article with TC picture, for some reason I think it is going to be about him stepping down or being demoted. Can someone explain that to me?

No. Because there is no reasonable explanation for that.

Why on Earth would he get demoted? I don't love everything he's been doing (or not doing, in the case of the Mac), but Apple is doing GREAT by any sane metric.

 

[LordQ]

But are they giving at least 10GB default for iCloud?

 

[Avieshek]

Does the US have R&D centres?

 

[CFreymarc]

Every other day I hear Apple is opening up new R&D Centers everywhere (Ireland, Vietnam, Thailand, China, Japan). I wonder what those really are.

I don't think they all develop products of some sort. Any insights would be helpful besides "Advanced R&D for great things".

Most of these foreign "R&D" facilities are probably for localization of hardware products designed in Cupertino. Was told it is more than just language translation of existing apps but devellopment of apps exclusively for a foreign market.
[doublepost=1476468760][/doublepost]

Does the US have R&D centres?

Much of the Cupertino campus is R&D.

 

[Kobayagi]

I hope that means they’re making tyres. Tim needs to get a grip and Yokohamas are good for it.

Hahaha, good one.

 

[smacrumon]

Apple's fascination with Japan continues. Birth place of original iPod hard disk drives. Birth place of Apple's floppy disk.

<3 Japan.

 

[Michael Scrip]

Apple's fascination with Japan continues. Birth place of original iPod hard disk drives. Birth place of Apple's floppy disk.

<3 Japan.

"All the best stuff is made in Japan"

- Marty McFly

 

[PJL500]

Great.

 

[Tycho24]

How many R&D Centers with over 500 employees do you really need? Mind you much of the external R&D is done by a team of no more than 15 guys in Ive's lab.

Well, with some of the rumored initiatives.....
not including the aforementioned Siri, Maps, etc. there could be teams researching & developing:
1)VR hardware & software- implementation and use cases
2)AR hardware & software- implementation and use cases
3)Custom SOC/SIP development
4)Custom chip development of other types (cellular, etc.)
5)Self-navigation hardware, software, & a strategy to get all car manufacturers on board
6)Creation of SAFE battery technologies & power management protocols to extend device uptime
7)a platform/device that competes with Amazon Echo/Google Home w/ a "killer feature" baked in
8)future biometrics
9)health initiatives <------ this could be split into at least 3 individual centers
10)a camera/3D mapping group exploring future possibilities of the dual camera setup
That's the 1st 10 I could come up with!!

 

[Zirel]

Every other day I hear Apple is opening up new R&D Centers everywhere (Ireland, Vietnam, Thailand, China, Japan). I wonder what those really are.

I don't think they all develop products of some sort. Any insights would be helpful besides "Advanced R&D for great things".

No, they are really nuclear intercontinental missile silos. /s

 

[MrNomNoms]

Every other day I hear Apple is opening up new R&D Centers everywhere (Ireland, Vietnam, Thailand, China, Japan). I wonder what those really are.

I don't think they all develop products of some sort. Any insights would be helpful besides "Advanced R&D for great things".

I would hazard to guess but part of it will be PR related to demonstrate that Apple isn't an American company but an international company who happens to have its headquarters located in the United States. Having a local presence builds up rapport especially within emerging markets which is particularly important when going up against home grown brands not to mention having local input into unique challenges that consumers face in that part of the world when using technology and how Apple can bridge that gap.

 

[flyinmac]

At least Apple is on track to finish something this year. With all the construction progress Apple has made in recent years, it looks as though Apple fans will at least be able to tour numerous Apple campuses. Even if there's no new computers to admire, we can go and ooohhh and aaaahhhh over fancy campuses where they design watch bands.

 

[Adam Warlock]

Every time I open macrumors and there is an article with TC picture, for some reason I think it is going to be about him stepping down or being demoted. Can someone explain that to me?

Wishful thinking.