Summary
- Apple is extending its partnership with Tata and wants it to take over iPhone repairs.
- The firm previously partnered with Taiwan's Wistron ICT but is shifting its repairs to Tata's manufacturing plant.
- This move could make iPhone and MacBook repairs cheaper in India.
Apple has been betting big on India and see potentially massive growth in the subcontinent. The firm has now started shifting gears and has collaborated with the Tata group to take over the iPhone repair wing in India.
The Tata group, who's an existing Apple partner responsible for assembling iPhones in India, will now take over repairs as well. The mantle is being passed from Taiwan's Wistron ICT Service Management Solutions to Tata's iPhone assembly campus in Karnataka.
While Apple does have small repair stores across cities for general repairs, it seems like more complex iPhone and MacBook repairs will be handled by Tata Electronics plant in Hosur, Tamil Nadu. Users will probably need to mail in their devices for repairs.
Speaking to Reuters, Cybermedia Research's VP said that this deepening partnership between Apple and Tata could one day lead to Apple selling refurbished devices in India, just like it does in the US.
Apple's reliance on Tata doesn't come as a surprise, though. With Tata being one of the biggest groups, Apple has managed to grow the iPhone market share under the partnership to 7% in 2023 from mere 1% in 2020.
Apple's expanding localisation of its business has made iPhones a bit cheaper in India. However, with Tata taking over the repairs' category, iPhone repairs could also get cheaper. Besides, the partnership also shows Apple's commitment to the Indian market. The firm also plans to open more stores across India, with its latest coming soon in Bengaluru. This would be Apple's third retail store after Mumbai and Delhi, with Mumbai's BKC being the largest yet.
What are your thoughts on Apple getting even more serious about the Indian market? Let us know in the comments below.
Source
Reuters
