Apple Inc. is asking suppliers to move some AirPods and Beats headphone production to India for the first time, according to Nikkei Asia.
The iPhone maker's emphasis on moving production to India is part of its "gradual diversification" from China, looking to lower the risk of supply-chain disruptions stemming from the country's strict zero-covid policy and tensions with the U.S., the news portal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
Apple, according to the report, could increase production of its audio wearables as early as next year.
iPhone assembler Foxconn has a manufacturing facility in Sriperumbudur near Chennai. The Taiwanese contract manufacturer assembles older iPhone models at the facility. Recently, Apple also said it is "excited" to start iPhone 14 production in India. iPhone exports from India crossed $1 billion in the five months since April, Bloomberg reported on Oct. 4, citing people familiar with the matter.
Also Read: Tata Group In Talks To Join Club Of Apple iPhone Makers
Luxshare Precision Industry and its affiliates, which produce AirPods in Vietnam and China, also plan to help Apple make the popular wireless earphones in India, the Nikkei report said.
Apple is now developing the country as a strategic production base, with exports intended for markets such as Europe, according to the report.
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