Apple AirPods with spatial sound
Todd Haselton | CNBC
Apple has asked suppliers to start manufacturing some of its AirPods and Beats headphones in India early next year, according to a report. Nikkei Asia report Wednesday.
The talks mark the company’s latest attempt to reduce the risk of supply chain disruptions in China due to Covid shutdown and increased US-China trade tensions. Apple has been reported in discussions in August to move some of my Apple Watches, MacBooks, and HomePods to Vietnam, and it announced in September it is assembling some of its flagship iPhone 14 phones in India.
Apple still relies heavily on China for the majority of iPhone production.
Foxconn, one of Apple’s manufacturing partners, will manufacture Beats headphones in India and try to manufacture AirPods there in the future, according to the report. Luxshare Precision Industry, which makes Apple’s AirPods in Vietnam and China, will also support the AirPods production effort in India.
Apple is looking to boost sales in India, the world’s second-largest smartphone market. And while the company’s move to India manufacturing was initially aimed at boosting sales, it is now treating the country as more of a strategic manufacturing base, according to the report.
Nikkei Asia said India will work to attract further investment by spending more than $30 billion on its electronics supply chain.
An Apple representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
