Apple in Talks with India's Tata Group to Manufacture iPhone Camera Components

Apple is actively engaging in discussions with two of India’s industrial giants—the Murugappa Group and Titan Company, a subsidiary of the Tata Group, aimed at assembling and producing subcomponents for iPhone camera modules. It is expected that Apple will finalize and announce this significant partnership within the next five to six months.

As one of the critical components of the iPhone, the quality and performance of the camera module are essential for the overall user experience. While Apple has successfully assembled several iPhone models in India, it has yet to find a local supplier for camera modules. The negotiations with the Murugappa Group and Titan Company represent a crucial step towards establishing a complete supply chain in India.

Titan Company is renowned for its precision manufacturing capabilities in watches and jewelry components, while the Murugappa Group is a conglomerate with operations spanning engineering, financial services, and chemicals. The strength and experience of these two groups undoubtedly provide robust support for Apple's further expansion in the Indian market.

Sources indicate that currently, as much as 14% of iPhones are assembled in India, accounting for about one-seventh of Apple's global production. With deepening collaborations with local Indian companies, Apple aims to shift at least half of its supply chain to India and increase the local value addition of its suppliers by nearly 50% within the next three years.

Since the Indian government launched the smartphone production-linked incentive scheme in August 2021, the Apple ecosystem has become a major driver in the development of India’s job market. According to an Indian official, in the past 32 months, the Apple ecosystem has directly or indirectly created over 400,000 jobs, significantly contributing to the local economy.

Furthermore, Apple directly employs nearly 3,000 individuals in India and has generated over one million job opportunities through its iOS app development ecosystem. These initiatives not only strengthen Apple’s position in the Indian market but also further enhance local economic growth and prosperity.