Apple Is Now Making AirPods Components in India

A U.S.-based Apple supplier has begun making components for AirPods in India, marking a significant step in the tech giant's push to expand production in the country, reports Bloomberg.

apple india
According to the news outlet, the Indian unit of Florida-based electronics manufacturer Jabil has begun shipping plastic AirPods enclosures to China and Vietnam, making the earbuds the second Apple product after iPhones to be made in India.

The move is part of Apple's plan to reduce its production reliance on China, where lockdown disruptions and US trade restrictions have made manufacturing more risky.

According to Jabil's website, the company operates a 858,000 square foot (80,000 square meter) facility employing more than 2,500 workers in Pune, western India.

Meanwhile, Apple's China-based suppliers are still waiting for the Indian government's approval to begin manufacturing there, with The Economic Times reporting that 14 Chinese companies have so far been granted only initial clearance.

The rush to gain approval follows news that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is drawing up plans to offer financial incentives to companies that produce wireless earphones and smartwatches locally.

Apple reportedly wants to triple its iPhone production capacity in India within the next two years. According to Bloomberg's sources, shipments of India-made iPhones to Europe and the Middle East are set to reach $2.5 billion by March 2023, almost doubling the $1.3 billion worth of iPhones the country exported in the year through March 2022.

The news outlet last year reported that it would take around eight years to move just 10% of Apple's production capacity out of China, where about 98% of iPhones are still made.

Related Roundup: AirPods 4
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Top Rated Comments

Minxy Avatar
32 months ago
India is the new China. But without the communism.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DFZD Avatar
32 months ago

But more corruption, less reliability, lower quality.

Also, most of China's economy is more capitalist than the US. China is communist only in the name of its government.
1. Corruption sure.. but more than China? I doubt.
2. Reliability.. I think you should use an iPhone 14th generation, its most likely built in India, and considering that internal components anyway come from China, it should not be an issue.
3. That's same as 2, but as I said use the 14 series and trust Apple and its partners to ensure similar quality output as from elsewhere.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
32 months ago
In September, I hope my new iPhone 15 Pro Max comes straight from India ??.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DFZD Avatar
32 months ago
Well we in India are now getting much better prices due to reduced taxation thanks to local manufacturing credits. I hope more companies move their manufacturing to India. China may give better pricing to build but its not a long term ally that the West needs.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
T Coma Avatar
32 months ago

But more corruption, less reliability, lower quality.

Also, most of China's economy is more capitalist than the US. China is communist only in the name of its government.
I can say — with actually having worked in business in China, mind you — that “privately” owned businesses are so deeply intertwined with or flat-out owned by local and state gov’t (with its requisite corruption) that their version of capitalism is a much different animal than the one the Americans are accustomed to.

I have no experience with business in India though, so I must rely on the reports of those who have experience in that arena. Any diversification that lessens reliance on China is certainly a step in the right direction, regardless.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
d5aqoëp Avatar
32 months ago

What "better prices"? Nothing has become cheaper and everything has become more expensive since "local manufacturing".
Allow me to discredit you royally

Take example of iPhone 14 Plus.

This whole month of Jan 2023, it is available on Flipkart for ₹75,000 including taxes. Source ('https://dl.flipkart.com/s/829WgquuuN'). Which comes to $920. This is probably cheapest in the world.
Now same model sells for $899 WITHOUT TAXES in the US.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)