Apple Seeking to Shift iPhone Production to Pegatron to Offset Chinese Qualcomm Ban

Apple is reportedly looking to shift production of older iPhones to Taiwanese supplier Pegatron in an effort to avoid losing billions in revenue as a result of its patent dispute with Qualcomm.

Earlier this week, Qualcomm was granted an import ban on the iPhone 6s through iPhone X in China after the court found those devices violated two Qualcomm patents.

However, according to documents seen by Nikkei Asian Review, smartphones produced by Pegatron are exempt from the ban because the Taiwanese supplier paid license fees for the contested software, whereas rival iPhone assemblers Foxconn and Wistron did not.

One of the sources with direct knowledge of the situation said Apple had held initial discussions with Pegatron about whether the Taiwan-based company could take on more iPhone production to make up for the impact of the ban. No decision has yet been taken, however.

[...]

Taking into account a consumer shift to newer models, it is estimated that the order barring production of older iPhone models by Foxconn and Wistron could hit Apple's sales by some $5 billion in 2018 or 3% of total iPhone revenue.

This could be halved to about $2.5 billion if Pegatron is exempted, two sources said. And if Apple later decides to ask Pegatron to step up production, the impact would be even less, the sources added.

Apple has warned that upholding the iPhone ban would cause "truly irreparable harm" to Apple, other companies, and consumers if it is forced to withdraw its devices from the market.

Late on Thursday, Apple said it will release a software update to iPhone users in China early next week that the company says should address the patent-related issues.

Tags: China, Qualcomm, Pegatron

Top Rated Comments

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chinito77

6 weeks ago

"Apple has warned that upholding the iPhone ban would cause "truly irreparable harm ('https://www.macrumors.com/2018/12/13/apple-warns-qualcomm-ban-irreparabl/')" to their shareholders" There, fixed it for you!

Rating: 6 Votes

Ricebucket

6 weeks ago

The ultimate middle finger to China is switching from a Chinese producer to a Taiwanese producer (remember, China denies Taiwan exists)

This has to be the ultimate misinformed comment.

All of the manufacturers in question are companies from Taiwan. All of them manufactures primarily in mainland China, not on the island of Taiwan. And there is not a problem for these companies to operate in mainland China.

Furthermore, this lawsuit is an American company suing another American company. Why is a middle finger to China even necessary? Especially since the mainland Chinese market is the largest mobile phone market in the world.

Your comment does not make sense whatsoever.
[doublepost=1544802259][/doublepost]Why can't Apple just pay Qualcomm for the lawsuit like Pegatron does? Pegatron will end up passing the costs to Apple anyways for whatever they're paying in royalties.

Rating: 4 Votes

JPack

6 weeks ago

The ultimate middle finger to China is switching from a Chinese producer to a Taiwanese producer (remember, China denies Taiwan exists)

Huh? Do you realize both Foxconn and Pegatron are Taiwanese companies?

Regardless, both manufacture principally in China.

Rating: 3 Votes

JPack

6 weeks ago

Bold move, likely purposely leaked to put added pressure on China to block the second Qualcomm attempt.

Nope. Pegatron is a second rate assembler for Apple. In the past, they’ve been relegated to manufacturing iPhone 5c and iPad mini. This is a hit for both Apple and their consumers who want quality products.

Rating: 2 Votes

now i see it

6 weeks ago

Maybe Apple isn't the victim and they need to pay what's due. Pay up.
If any "irreparable harm" comes to apple because of this ruling, it's their own fault.

Rating: 2 Votes

thisisnotmyname

6 weeks ago

Bold move, likely purposely leaked to put added pressure on China to block the second Qualcomm attempt.

Rating: 2 Votes

jlc1978

6 weeks ago

Apple releasing an update to work around the patent is as big an admission of guilt as you could imagine.

Hardly. Even if they believe they will prevail in court they want to limit any damages if they don't. Working around the patent limits the infrigement since the patent in dispute is no longer being used; it alos gives Chian a face saving out to lift the ban without appearing to cave to Apple.

Rather than put their hands up though, they appeal and throw warnings around.

Sure. If China plays tough Apple can as well. There is no reason to surrender if they think they will utimately win.

Rating: 1 Votes

npmacuser5

5 weeks ago

Apple should move production away from China and back to Japan or the USA. More expensive, perhaps, but politically more stable investment in the long term.

That will happen when the real trade problem resolved. Want American made, we all need to pay for it. As long as 90% of the US population purchasing decisions are made on initial cost of All the products they purchase, US manufacturing will Never return. The current solution, force the 90% to pay more by tariffs. The problem with that theory, US manufacturing will take decades to ramp up to what the rest of the world already has in place. Not to mention the costs of doing so. Apple has clearly said the US does not have the means to build their products, both in plants and highly skilled labor. Comes down too, we are addicted to price shopping.

Rating: 1 Votes

HacKage

6 weeks ago

Apple releasing an update to work around the patent is as big an admission of guilt as you could imagine. Rather than put their hands up though, they appeal and throw warnings around.

Rating: 1 Votes