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This would be the first time we will witness a new iPhone manufactured in another country simultaneously with China.
Further, the analyst stated that setting up production of a new iPhone outside of China takes a while. For example, the iPhone 13 series launched in India in September 2021, but the production of the same in India started in April 2022 at the Chennai plant. Usually, this production outside China isn't meant to fulfill demand in global shipments; instead, it's to meet that particular country's requirements.
My latest survey indicates Foxconn's iPhone production site in India will ship the new 6.1" iPhone 14 almost simultaneously with China for the first time in 2H22 (India being one quarter or more behind in the past).
— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) August 5, 2022
In the short term, India's iPhone capacities/shipments still have a considerable gap with China, but it's an important milestone for Apple in building a non-Chinese iPhone production site.
— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) August 5, 2022
According to Kuo, this simultaneous production of the iPhone 14 in India won't help the company ship iPhone 14 to the global market, but it's still an "important milestone for Apple." Further, the analyst says: that this move in iPhone 14's production in India is due to geopolitical impacts on the company's supply chain.
For those unaware, US politician Nancy Patricia Pelosi visiting Taiwan sparked political tensions between the US and China, which resulted in the cancellation of the OnePlus Ace Pro, Moto X30 Pro, and Moto Razr 2022 launch events. As per a post from Reuters, the US politician had meetings with Apple's chipmaker TSMC and Taiwanese assembler Pegatron. Because of these meetings, China is blocking shipments of these companies.
The iPhone maker told suppliers that China had started enforcing a long-standing rule that Taiwanese-made parts and components must be labeled as made either in "Taiwan, China" or "Chinese Taipei," the report added.
By giving the production of the iPhone 14 in India, Apple aims to reduce its reliance on China for its iPhone manufacturing. While this may affect Apple's production of the iPhone 14 series, Apple - following its September launch tradition - will announce its iPhone 14 series next month at the Apple September event.