According to London-based data analytics and consulting company GlobalData, Apple has posted a month-on-increase in job openings amid its attempt to expand in India as well as diversify its supply chain, says a report by ET Telecom. The tech giant is also apparently determined to cut production dependence on China. According to GlobalData's Business Fundamentals Analyst Sherla Sriprada, the shift from China will be underscored by the iPhone maker's plans to increase production in India in the next year years. Apple may also aim to establish India as a hub for diversification, the ET Telecom report added.
Taking into account the hiring trend, the tech giant's reliance on China may take a while to reduce, the analyst added.
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According to market intelligence firm Counterpoint Research, iPhone manufcaturing in India has grown from 3 per cent to 14 per cent in almost two years while China's iPhone assembl has declined from 95 per cent to 86 per cent. It should be noted that India assembles only the non-Pro iPhone models locally with its contract manufacturing partners.
Meanwhile, India-assembled vanilla iPhone 15 and 15 Plus started retailing in the country on Friday (September 22) on the day of launch, for the first time. India-made devices have also been made available in other parts of the world, reports say. Apple is said to have shifted 7 per cent of iPhone assembling in India. The new iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus devices are being manufactured by Apple's contract manufacturer Foxconn's production unit near southern Indian state of Chennai.
As per famed Apple analyst Ming Chi-Kuo, Kuo the iPhone 15 series will hit a combined 80 million shipments by the end of 2023. Consumer demand for the two standard iPhone 15 models is roughly on par with last year's iPhone 14 and 14 Plus models.
The price of the iPhone 15 Pro starts at Rs 1,34,900 whereas iPhone 15 Pro Max starts at Rs 1,59,900 and the price of the iPhone 15 starts at Rs 79,900 for the 128GB variant while the iPhone 15 Plus, 128 GB model starts at Rs 89,900.