Tata Group becomes first Indian company to make iPhones locally

New Delhi, October 27

Tata Group is set to become India’s first homegrown iPhone maker after Taiwan’s Wistron Group agreed to sell a plant in Bengaluru to India’s largest conglomerate.

Wistron’s Board approved the sale of Wistron InfoComm Manufacturing (India) Private Ltd to Tata Electronics for $125 million, the Taiwanese electronics manufacturer said on Friday. The unit operates an iPhone assembly plant near Bengaluru.

Deal dynamics

• Tata Electronics Pvt Ltd., a subsidiary of Tata Sons, will acquire 100% stake in Wistron InfoComm Manufacturing (India) Pvt Ltd
• The takeover of the Wistron Corp factory in Bengaluru concludes after about a year of negotiations
• The facility employs over 10,000 workers, who assemble the latest iPhone 14 model

The takeover of the Wistron Corp factory concludes after about a year of negotiations. The facility employs over 10,000 workers, who assemble the latest iPhone 14 model.

“Upon confirmation and signature of the relevant agreements by both parties, the deal will proceed to obtain the necessary approvals,” Wistron said.

Apple’s iPhones are mainly assembled by Taiwanese manufacturing giants like 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.

Minister of State for Electronics and Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar took to the X to congratulate Tatas for taking over Wistron operations.

The production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme has already propelled India into becoming a trusted and major hub for smartphone manufacturing and exports.

“Now, within just two and a half years, @TataCompanies will now start making iPhones from India for domestic and global markets from India,” he said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Thank you @Wistron for your contributions, and great going for Apple in building a global supply chain from India with Indian companies at its helm.” He went on to state that his ministry stands fully in support of the growth of global Indian electronics companies to make India their trusted manufacturing and talent partner.

Cupertino, California-based Apple is looking beyond China amid a trade war between the US and Beijing.