Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) has brought in Tata Group to handle repairs for iPhones and MacBook devices in India, Reuters reported, citing people with knowledge of the matter.
As Apple looks beyond China for its manufacturing needs, Tata has come up a vital supplier and already assembles iPhones for domestic and foreign markets at three facilities in South India, with one of them also making some iPhone parts.
Under the collaboration, Tata is taking over the responsibility from an Indian unit of Taiwan’s Wistron, ICT Service Management Solutions, and would carry out after-sales repairs from its Karnataka iPhone assembly site, the report added.
Apple, Wistron and Tata did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Seeking Alpha.
The latest agreement indicates Apple’s growing confidence in Tata. The takeover from ICT by Tata is currently ongoing, the report noted.
Apple’s official service centers in India can do basic repairs, they would now send phones and laptops to Tata’s facility for more complex issues. Wistron’s ICT will continue to service other clients excluding Apple, the report added.
While Apple continues its efforts to grow manufacturing beyond China, it has faced backlash at home. Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump said the tech giant would have to pay 25% tariffs on iPhones not made in the U.S.
Last month Trump had urged Apple’s CEO Tim Cook to stop building facilities in India.
Cook had previously said that the majority of iPhones sold in the U.S. during June quarter will be made at factories in India.
Hon Hai Precision (OTCPK:HNHAF) (OTCPK:HNHPF), also known as Foxconn Technology (OTCPK:FXCOF), assembles a large portion of iPhones made in India.