Apple has enlisted Tata Group to manage repairs for iPhones and MacBooks across India, marking the latest expansion of a partnership that positions the Indian conglomerate as a cornerstone of the tech giant's supply chain diversification away from China.
The arrangement, which transfers repair operations from Taiwan's Wistron subsidiary ICT Service Management Solutions to Tata's iPhone assembly campus in Karnataka, reflects Apple's growing confidence in Indian manufacturing as the company reduces its dependence on Chinese facilities.
Tata already assembles iPhones for both domestic and international markets at three facilities in southern India, with one site also producing iPhone components12. The repair contract extends this relationship into after-sales services, with Tata handling complex technical issues while Apple's authorized service centers continue managing routine fixes34.
The timing coincides with Apple's broader manufacturing pivot. According to the Financial Times, the company plans to move assembly of all U.S.-bound iPhones to India as early as next year, potentially doubling current Indian production5. This shift comes amid escalating trade tensions between Washington and Beijing, with Apple seeking to build redundancy into its supply chain6.
India's smartphone market momentum supports Apple's expanded investment. The company sold approximately 11 million iPhones in India last year, capturing 7% market share compared to just 1% in 2020, according to Counterpoint Research123. The country's smartphone market value is projected to cross $50 billion in 2025, driven by premiumization trends3.
"Tata's deepening partnership with Apple could also pave the groundwork for Apple directly selling refurbished devices in India, like how it does in the United States currently," said Prabhu Ram, vice president at Cybermedia Research45.
The repair market expansion comes as India emerges as Apple's alternative to Chinese manufacturing. Tata Electronics has acquired controlling stakes in both Wistron's Indian operations and Pegatron Technology India, consolidating its role as Apple's key Indian partner1.
The transition from ICT to Tata is currently underway, with neither Apple nor Wistron commenting publicly on the arrangement23. A Tata spokesperson declined to comment2.
The partnership represents more than operational efficiency—it signals Apple's long-term commitment to India as both a manufacturing hub and growth market, even as geopolitical pressures reshape global technology supply chains.