Apple is asking its suppliers to move production of some AirPods and Beats headphones to India for the first time, the Nikkei News reported, in what could be another victory for New Delhi in its push for local manufacturing. Foxconn, the assembler of Apple’s iPhones, is preparing to make Beats headphones in India and hopes to eventually make AirPods there as well, the report said, citing sources.
The report says that the iPhone maker’s Chinese supplier Lixion Precision Industries and its offshoot unit also plan to help Apple produce AirPods in India.
However, Nikkei reported that Lixion is currently more focused on its AirPods business in Vietnam and may be slower than its rivals in terms of starting meaningful production of Apple products in India.
Apple did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
The tech giant has been shifting some areas of iPhone production from China to other markets in recent years, including India, where it began production of the iPhone 13 earlier this year, and also plans to assemble iPad tablets. The company last week announced plans to produce the latest iPhone 14 in India.
A Bloomberg News report Tuesday said iPhone exports from India have surpassed $1 billion in five months since April and will reach $2.5 billion in the 12 months ending March 2023.
Nikkei News reported that Apple’s latest move is part of a gradual move to diversify its supply chain away from China. India and other countries such as Mexico and Vietnam are becoming increasingly important to contract manufacturers supplying the world’s largest company.
