Apple has started exporting an AirPods component from India to China and Vietnam, reports Bloomberg. This adds to Apple’s strategy of diversifying production across India and several other countries.
According to the report, Jabil, a US-based company with a manufacturing facility in Pune, has begun exporting AirPods enclosures (or plastic bodies) to China and Vietnam. This is an encouraging sign, and we are seeing the production of AirPods-related parts for the first time.
As Luxshare Precision Industry has received government approval, we may soon hear about the production of AirPods in India. Luxshare Precision was one of many Chinese suppliers to be granted permission to increase production through joint ventures with Indian partners.
Apple product manufacturing in India has significantly increased the country’s exports. As previously reported, Apple has surpassed Samsung to become the leading mobile phone exporter, with December exports totaling $1 billion.
Based on earlier reports, Apple is expected to move some AirPods, Beats production to India to grow its industrial footprint. Based on a J.P. Morgan report from September, Apple is said to be planning to move manufacturing of 25% of all iPhones to India by 2025.