This is the fourth iPhone made by Apple in India. The company started domestic production in 2017 with the original iPhone SE. The decision comes as no surprise. The Indian government has used many tools to pressure companies to build locally, including investment rules that require local procurement for 30 percent of spare parts. Rising import duties also played a role. If Apple did not manufacture the iPhone 13 locally, the device could be prohibitively expensive compared to similar ones manufactured within India. Apple has also diversified its production away from China to avoid trade disputes and other issues that may arise due to its heavy dependence on this country. Indian production could help Apple deal with temporary shutdowns in Chinese factories. The company also reportedly moved parts of the AirPod and MacBook to Vietnam, although Nikkei claimed the pandemic delayed those plans. The expansion is also coming despite labor problems in India. Riots erupted at Wistron iPhone factory in the Narasapura industrial area in late 2020 as workers protested unpaid wages, overtime and difficult working conditions. Apple has put Wistron on trial until the contractor addresses the issues, but it is safe to say that the crisis was not going to help Apple build the country.
