Apple Expands Tata Partnership for iPhone Repairs in India
Apple has broadened its strategic relationship with Tata Group by entrusting the Indian conglomerate with the after-sales repair operations of iPhones and MacBooks across India. This marks a significant shift in Apple’s India operations, as it further integrates Tata into its growing ecosystem in the country.
Previously managed by Wistron’s Indian unit, the repair responsibilities will now be handled from Tata’s iPhone assembly facility in Karnataka. This move is part of Apple’s wider plan to localize more functions within India and reduce dependency on other international service providers. With iPhone sales surging across India, the need for a robust, high-quality repair infrastructure has become increasingly vital.
India has emerged as a major growth market for Apple, with iPhone shipments reaching approximately 11 million units in the past year. This has driven Apple’s market share up to 7%, a significant leap from just 1% in 2020. Tata already operates three iPhone assembly plants in the country, and this new responsibility positions it as a central pillar in Apple’s India strategy.
While Apple’s authorized service centers will continue to manage simpler repair tasks, more advanced diagnostics and repairs will now be handled by Tata’s backend operations. This setup is expected to improve service quality and turnaround times, especially in high-volume urban markets.
The deepening of Apple-Tata collaboration is not just about repairs. The development also opens the door for Apple to potentially introduce refurbished iPhones directly in the Indian market, a strategy that has seen success in markets like the United States. This would allow Apple to tap into price-sensitive customer segments while maintaining control over the device lifecycle.
This move also fits into Apple’s broader plan to diversify its manufacturing footprint away from China. As highlighted by Apple’s top executives, a substantial number of iPhones sold in the United States during the June quarter will be manufactured in India—a strong signal of the country’s rising prominence in Apple’s global supply chain.
With these new responsibilities, Tata Group becomes an even more integral partner in Apple’s India operations, reinforcing the tech giant’s long-term commitment to India as both a key market and a strategic manufacturing hub.
