Apple inc. now hightening its focus on the world's fastest-growing major smartphone market as growth slows elsewhere.Apple will begin assembling IPhones in India by the end of April,a Karnataka minister says.
Apple tapped Taiwan's Wistron Corporation to put together it's phones in the tech capital Bengaluru,said Priyank Kharge.the state information technology minister.
The start of IPhone assembly in India comes after months of speculation on Apple's plan for the market,which is led by rival Samsung Electronics Co.It Signals a renewed focus on the country,where it just scrapes into the top 10,as growth begins to slow in china and other more mature markets.The Cupertino,California-based company is said to have put forward a long list of demands including a 15-year tax holiday to import components and equipment in negotiations with the central gov.
"Apple's IPhones will be made in Bangalore and all devices will be targeted at thte domestic market,"said Kharge,IT minister for Karnataka,of which Bangalore is the capital.Kharge said the state will help Apple if it decides to turn to other contract manufacturers in the region.
CEO Tim cook said on an earning call this week that India is "the place to be."He visited the country for the first time last may as he sought gov. approval for Apple to open its own stores.
The company shipped 2.5 million IPhones into the country in 2016.while that is its best year ever in terms of revenues and sales.it only ranked 10th among vendors in the december quarter according Counterpoint Research.Apple accounts for less than 2 percent of shipments in India,where an estimated 750 million smartphones willbe sold by 2020.
The devices will be assembled through a plant on Banglore's outskirts operated by wistron,a Taiwanese contract manufacturer.
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