A Tata Electronics plant in Chennai, India, that makes components for iPhones reportedly caught fire on Saturday, halting production.
It’s not clear yet how this will affect iPhone assembly in the country. It’s certainly not good news for Apple’s efforts to become less dependent on China.
Fire affects iPhone assembly in India
Although iPhone components come from around the world, the actual assembly of the devices mostly happens in China. But widespread COVID lockdowns and growing international tensions in recent years prompted Apple to look to India, too. Apparently about 14% of iOS handsets are now made there. The latest iPhones are assembled in India as well as China.
But Reuters reports that “Production will remain suspended indefinitely at a Tata Electronics plant in southern India that makes Apple iPhone components after a fire at the weekend.”
The plant makes back panels for the iOS handsets and other components, too. While Apple could source these from other suppliers, the fire is undoubtedly a disruption to the flow of parts needed to make iOS handsets in India.
Another area of the same plant is scheduled to start assembling iPhone units in the next few months. It’s not yet known if the blaze affected this plant.
Tata Group is an Indian multinational based in Mumbai. It bought out Wistron’s plant for iPhone production in 2023.
Tata only one of several
Apple doesn’t have all its iPhone eggs in one Indian basket. While Tata plays an important part of making iOS devices in India, other companies also participate.
Most importantly, Foxconn takes the lead in iPhone production in the country, just as it does in China. And Pegatron is involved, too.
