Apple is expected to open its long-awaited first flagship store in India, marking Apple's efforts to expand in the world's second-largest smartphone market as the global smartphone market is plateauing.
The US, looking to form a non-Chinese supply chain, collaborates with India to build a resilient semiconductor ecosystem. Apple suppliers, especially Foxconn, are hopeful that India may play a larger role in terms of electronics supply and demand.
Apple suppliers, especially those based in Taiwan, are expanding their investments in India, which may go beyond mobile phone manufacturing. However, occasional production halts remain challenging.
Vedanta and Foxconn selected Dholera SIR in the Gujarat state for establishing its wafer fab project, and the weak economy leads to a drag on India's local handset manufactuers' production plans.
Taiwan-based panel provider Innolux agrees to give a hand in India's development of LCD technology and manufacutring. However, Tata's low yield in manufacturing iPhone cases is a warning sign that 'Make in India' will be a long journey.
Due to high inflation and inventory, India's smartphone shipments saw a huge drop in 2022. Samsung Electronics began manufacturing more flagship smartphones in India to drive premium phone sales as the weak economy does not bode well for entry-level smartphones.
Apple's supplier Jabil reportedly begins making plastic enclosures in India. Samsung Electronics announced to make the latest flagship Galaxy S23 production in India.
iPhone production is picking up in India, with Apple eyeing 25% of iPhones made in the country. Apple is reportedly looking to bring more China-based suppliers to invest in India despite India's barring of inward Chinese investments amid souring China-India relationships.
Taiwan-based PSMC confirmed it would help India build a wafer fab from scrach. India is reportedly looking for customers for its locally-made chips once the semiconductor ecosystem develops.
iPhone 13 has became the best-selling smartphone model in the latest quarter in India, a huge milestone for Apple. India has sold more than 4.25 million cars and one million electric vehicles, including electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers, in 2022.
Smartphone manufacturers produced fewer smartphones in India amid the economic downturn in third-quarter 2022, while 5G smartphones are believed to be the mainstream in 2023 as wireless operators keep rolling out 5G services.
Apple's suppliers continued to move to India for manufacturing. With the help of Japanese and Taiwanese technologies, Sahasra Electronics will manufacture first India-made memory ICs in January 2023.
Partly thanks to India's PLI scheme for mobile phones, Apple is expected to see record iPhone exports from India, while another contributor to India's mobile phone exports, Samsung Electronics, still has to wait for more than a year to obtain subsidies under the PLI.
Apple is reportedly asking suppliers to increase iPhone production capacity in India and is exploring moving iPad production into India. India's mobile phone exports is rapidly rising thanks to Samsung and Apple's investments.
India has become the world's biggest smartwatch market. India-based conglomerates, including Tata and Vedanta, are eyeing electronics manufacturing as global supply chain relocation is picking up speed.
