According to two individuals familiar with the matter, Apple has partnered with the Tata Group to handle repairs for iPhones and MacBook devices in its rapidly growing Indian market. It marks the Indian conglomerate’s growing role in the US tech giant’s supply chain.
Apple is now concentrating on manufacturing in other countries, with Tata becoming its main supplier. It is already assembling iPhones for local and overseas markets at three factories in southern India, one of which also produces iPhone components.
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In its latest partnership expansion, Tata is taking over the mandate from the Indian unit of Taiwan’s Wistron, ICT Service Management Solutions. Both sources said it will conduct post-sales repairs from its Karnataka iPhone assembly campus.
Research showed that Apple sold 11 million iPhones from India last year, resulting in a 7% market share, compared to a mere 1% share achieved in 2020.
Apple’s latest contract award marks a significant step forward in its growing relationship with Tata, as the world’s most valuable smartphone company looks to expand its business dealings with the Indian firm.
“Tata’s deepening partnership with Apple could also lay the groundwork for Apple to directly sell refurbished devices in India, like it does in the United States currently,” said Prabhu Ram, a vice president at Cybermedia Research.
It is now reported that Tata is acquiring ICT, according to unnamed industry insiders.
The companies involved did not respond to brief requests for comments, but a representative from Tata declined to comment.
Apple’s official service centres in India will now send phones and laptops to Tata’s facility for more complex repairs, rather than carrying out the work in-house.
Amid the looming threat of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on China, India is also emerging as a preferred destination for iPhone exports. Apple CEO Tim Cook has stated that most iPhones sold in the United States during the June quarter will be produced at factories in India.
