US Tech giant Apple on Monday confirmed it has started manufacturing its latest flagship iPhone13 smartphone in India.
The flagship product is reportedly being made at Apple’s contract manufacturing partner Foxconn’s facility, near Chennai.
This development will go a ways in bolstering India image as a manufacturing economy, compared to neighbour and global manufacturing powerhouse China in particular.
‘We are excited to begin making iPhone 13 with its beautiful design, advanced camera systems for stunning photos and videos, and the incredible performance of the A15 Bionic chip right here in India for our local customers,’ a statement by Apple said.
While Apple does manufacture some of its earlier yet advanced iPhones in the country including the iPhone 11, iPhone 12, this is the first time the current flagship in the lineup will be locally produced.
The iPhone 13 was also available to customers in India soon as it launched in the US, another first which signaled the company’s commitment to India, the world’s largest smartphone market, and strangely a market where the tech titan has seen very little success in the past.
Apple launched its online store in September 2020 in India, offering customers a direct way to purchase products without having to go through a reseller.
Apple had also suggested that its first retail store will open in India by the end of 2021, that has yet to be realised.