Apple’s association with India’s Tata Group has just become even more significant. As reported by Reuters, Apple has officially enlisted Tata to manage iPhone and MacBook repairs within the country. Here’s why this is noteworthy.
Tata Group has been increasingly pivotal in Apple’s supply chain, assembling iPhones for both local and international markets. It currently operates three facilities in southern India, one of which also manufactures iPhone components.
With this announcement, Tata takes over the after-sales repair services from Wistron’s local division, ICT Service Management Solutions. The repairs will be conducted from Tata’s campus in Karnataka, where the company already assembles iPhones for both domestic and global markets.
While Apple’s authorized service centers in India will continue to manage standard repairs, more complex fixes, such as motherboard repairs and screen assembly replacements, will now be processed through Tata’s facility.
If this indicates yet another effort by Apple to mitigate its reliance on China’s manufacturing, it certainly does. It also reflects how rapidly India is emerging as a vital growth market for Apple.
According to Counterpoint Research, iPhone sales in India reached 11 million units last year, increasing from a mere 1% market share in 2020 to approximately 7% now. The company is also aiming to open a third store in the country.
### Refurbished devices on the horizon?
This growth clearly translates into a flourishing market for repairs and service infrastructure, but today’s announcement might also hint at an even larger strategy by the iPhone manufacturer: refurbished devices.
Here’s what Cybermedia Research’s Prabhu Ram stated:
“Tata’s strengthening alliance with Apple could also establish the foundation for Apple to sell refurbished devices directly in India, similar to its operations in the United States currently.”
Apple has not publicly addressed this shift, and the transition from Wistron to Tata is still in progress. However, with Tata now engaged in both manufacturing and repair functions, it’s apparent that Apple is significantly committing to its venture in India, regardless of the U.S. government’s stance.
