Last updated: January 30, 2023, 3:16 PM IST
AirPods are made in China, but that could soon change
Apple wants to increase its production in India and adding more products to the pot will help with its strategy.
Apple is expanding its brand in India strategy with plans to keep AirPods moving in the country at a rapid pace. According to a Bloomberg report, the company is using its in-country supplier Jabil Inc to make components for Apple’s premium TWS earbuds and ship them to China and Vietnam, where the AirPods are made.
This may not sound like a big deal, especially since the main manufacturing is still based in China, but Apple is slowly moving its manufacturing base away from China and considers Vietnam and India to be the best alternatives in the region. Making components for AirPods could be the first step before the whole product is ready to be produced in the country.
Apple is keen to increase Indian production to 25 percent in the coming years, most of which will be occupied by iPhones.
Apple also plans to make iPads and MacBooks in the country, which will be entrusted to other suppliers for the Cupertino-based giant. The move to make AirPods components aligns with the timeline of Apple’s plans to make its audio products, including Beats headphones, in the country.
It’s possible that Apple will have an easier time producing these products in-country, with Foxconn’s help, than how it used a mix of imported components and local delivery for iPhones.
The company has started planning for this year’s iPhone 15 series, which is expected to be the company’s first with a USB-C port for charging. Apple has used China as its main hub for many years, but this year’s COVID lockdown hampered its production, which had a direct effect on the delivery of the iPhone 14 Pros. Apple has ported all of its Mac products to the M-series chip, and more products are expected in the near future, including the rumored foldable iPad.
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