Tata Electronics Plans to Develop High-Precision Machines To Produce iPhone Casing: Reports

Tata Electronics, a significant player in assembling enclosures for Apple iPhones in India, is currently engaged in the development of sophisticated and intricate high-precision machinery used in the production of iPhone casings. The company has forged partnerships with two Indian manufacturers to enhance these capabilities, with plans to eventually export these advanced machines instead of relying on imports from China, according to sources cited by ET in its report.

These cutting-edge machines are intended for use in the production lines of contract manufacturers serving global entities like Apple. This strategic shift is poised to provide a significant boost to the Indian government's target of achieving $300 billion in electronics exports by 2025.

In October 2023, Tata Group further solidified its position in the iPhone manufacturing space by announcing the acquisition of a plant in Bengaluru from Taiwan's Wistron Group. Wistron's board consented to the sale of Wistron InfoComm Manufacturing (India) Private Ltd to Tata Electronics for USD 125 million, as stated in a release by the Taiwanese electronics manufacturer. The facility, situated near Bengaluru, operates as an iPhone assembly plant and currently employs over 10,000 workers engaged in assembling the latest iPhone 14 model. It marks the culmination of about a year's worth of negotiations. Notably, Apple's iPhones are primarily assembled by Taiwanese manufacturing giants such as Pegatron Corp and Foxconn Technology Group.

Tata Electronics is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Sons, the promoter of the salt-to-software conglomerate. The group is seeking to make inroads into electronics production and e-commerce. Tata Electronics already operates a manufacturing facility in Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu.