iPhone maker Wistron has started assembling Apple's latest and most affordable iPhone SE (2020) in India at its Bengaluru facility. With the latest development, consumers can expect the phone to hit retail shelves and online channels soon.
The India assembling comes a little over four months after the launch of the latest iPhone model in the country. The local manufacturing of the iPhone SE (2020) would help Apple avoid an import duty of 20 per cent that mobile phone manufacturers need to pay for importing their models from global markets. With festive season around the corner, customers can also expect some discount on iPhone SE (2020) price in India, thanks to the new move.
The local production of the second-generation iPhone SE indicates Apple's seriousness towards India, which is the world’s second-largest smartphone market.
However, Apple hasn't provided any details about when it would start selling locally manufactured iPhone SE (2020) units in India. At the same time, considering previous records, fresh stock with an “assembled in India” label is likely to hit stores in the country in the coming weeks.
Apple iPhone SE was launched on April 15 and comes at a starting price of Rs 42,990, making it the cheapest iPhone one can buy in India.
As of now, Wistron also assembles the iPhone 7 at its facility in Bengaluru. The iPhone XR is assembled in India by Foxconn.
Apart from Wistron, another Apple manufacturer Foxconn has an assembling unit in Chennai, where two of the most popular iPhones in the world—iPhone XR and iPhone 11—are assembled.
Another iPhone manufacturer, Pegatron, is also planning to set up a plant in India. Pegatron will be the fourth partner of Apple to set its footprint in India after Wistron, Foxconn and Compal Electronics. At present, only Wistron and Foxconn assemble iPhones in India.
