Apple Reportedly Enlists Tata Group for iPhone and MacBook Repair Services in India
Apple is reportedly expanding its collaboration with the Tata Group in India, entrusting the Indian conglomerate with the after-sales repair services for iPhones and MacBook devices, according to sources familiar with the development. This move signifies a deepening of Tata's role within Apple's increasingly important Indian supply chain, as the U.S. technology giant continues to diversify its manufacturing and service operations beyond China.
Tata Group, which has rapidly emerged as a key local partner for Apple, already assembles iPhones at three facilities in southern India, with one also producing certain iPhone components. The latest expansion will see Tata take over the repair mandate from ICT Service Management Solutions, an Indian unit of Taiwan's Wistron. These repair operations will reportedly be conducted from Tata's iPhone assembly campus located in Karnataka. While Apple's existing authorized service centers handle basic repairs, more complex issues for iPhones and laptops will now likely be directed to Tata's facility.
This strategic shift comes as iPhone sales in India are experiencing significant growth. Counterpoint Research estimates that approximately 11 million iPhones were sold in India last year, giving Apple a 7% market share, a substantial increase from just 1% in 2020. The burgeoning market for repairs is a natural consequence of this sales boom.
Apple's increasing reliance on Tata is seen as a sign of growing confidence in the Indian conglomerate's capabilities. Analysts suggest this deepening partnership could also lay the groundwork for Apple to potentially introduce direct sales of refurbished devices in India, a practice already established in markets like the United States. The transition of repair responsibilities from Wistron's ICT unit to Tata is reportedly ongoing.
This development highlights Apple's commitment to India as both a key manufacturing hub and a rapidly expanding consumer market, with Tata Group playing an increasingly pivotal role in supporting these ambitions.
