According to a Bloomberg report, Apple will begin manufacturing AirPods in India for the first time early next year. Foxconn is scheduled to begin manufacturing the earphones in Hyderabad, Telangana state. The company will initiate production on a trial basis and intends to gradually escalate to mass production.
The decision to establish production in India was formally requested by Apple in 2023, as reported previously. Foxconn officials reportedly engaged in internal deliberations for several months regarding the feasibility of assembling AirPods due to low profit margins. However, they decided to proceed with the endeavor to “reinforce engagement” with Apple. The Government of India offers financial incentives to companies that manufacture wireless earphones and smartwatches domestically, which significantly influenced Apple’s decision to relocate manufacturing operations to India.
This move is also part of Apple’s initiative to mitigate its production reliance on China amidst escalating geopolitical tensions between the two nations. Last year, Apple supplier Jabil commenced manufacturing AirPods enclosures in India for shipment to China and Vietnam, where the earphones are currently assembled.
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