Reports suggest that Tata Sons, a prominent Indian conglomerate, is on the verge of acquiring Wistron’s existing plant near Bangalore for approximately Rs. 5,000 crores. The move would make Tata the first locally owned company to establish an Apple product production line in India.
The proposed acquisition is the latest in a series of efforts to expand the production of Apple products in India. For months, Tata has been in talks with Wistron Corp., a Taiwanese company that is one of three iPhone manufacturers in India, along with Foxconn and Pegatron Corp. If the deal goes through, Tata Group may begin assembling the iPhone 15 by the end of this year.
In addition to the Wistron plant, Tata Electronics is also considering investing Rs. 6,300 crore in its Hosur, Tamil Nadu facility. This move aims to facilitate the production of Apple products in India, with production expected to begin by the end of June.
Furthermore, Tata Group intends to set up 100 exclusive Apple stores across India via its electronic chain, Tata Croma, in addition to assembling iPhones in India. The acquisition of Wistron’s plant will significantly enhance the group’s production capacity, enabling it to contribute to India’s push for greater domestic manufacturing.
The Wistron plant currently produces iPhone 14 and iPhone 12 models and has eight assembly lines. If the deal goes through, the plant will produce Apple products for the domestic market under the Tata Group’s ownership.
In addition to manufacturing Apple products, the group has also discussed plans with Apple CEO Tim Cook to sell Apple products in India. The partnership could facilitate the creation of a new supply chain that would enable Apple to establish a foothold in the Indian market.
Finally, the Tata Group has also expressed its intention to apply for production-linked incentives introduced by the Indian government to promote local manufacturing of electronic products. The incentives are aimed at driving investment and creating jobs in India’s electronics industry.
In conclusion, Tata’s potential acquisition of Wistron’s plant near Bangalore could mark a significant milestone in India’s push for greater domestic manufacturing. With production expected to begin by the end of the year, the move could result in Tata becoming the first domestic Apple product manufacturer in India. Additionally, the group’s partnership with Apple could enable the creation of a new supply chain and facilitate the establishment of Apple stores across India, providing a boost to India’s electronics industry.
