Apple in Problem due to Fire in Tata Group’s iPhone Components Manufacturing Plant

American devices company Apple, which makes the worldwide popular iPhone, is facing a problem before the festive season. A fire in the factory of Tata Group, which manufactures iPhone components, may affect the manufacturing of these smartphones. Due to this, Apple will have to source important components of iPhone from China or other countries.

A fire broke out in Tata Group’s factory in Hosur, Tamil Nadu last week. From this factory, back panels and some other components are supplied to Apple’s contract manufacturer Foxconn and Tata Group’s iPhone assembling unit. Market research firm Counterpoint said that about 15 lakh units of iPhone 14 and 15 are expected to be sold in the festive season running from October to early November. Due to fire in this factory of Tata Group, Apple may find it difficult to meet 15 percent of this demand.

Till August this year, Tata Group, along with sales in the country, has also exported iPhones worth about $ 250 million to America and Netherlands. Tata Group declined to comment in this regard. Typically, Apple’s suppliers keep three to four weeks of stock of back panels. An industry source with knowledge of this said that Apple may have eight weeks of stock. Because of this it will not have an immediate effect. Tata Group is among the new suppliers for Apple in the country. This year, the share of these smartphones made in the country in the international shipments of iPhone may be around 25 percent. Last year this figure was about 14 percent. Manufacturing of iPhones in the country has increased rapidly in the last few years.

There are about 20,000 workers in this factory of Tata Group. Another iPhone manufacturing unit of Tata Group can be started in the same complex in Hosur by the end of this year. Apple recently launched the iPhone 16 series. Smartphones of this series are also being manufactured in the country. The company expects to get strong demand for it.