The Prime Minister Narendra Modi's US visit later this month also features a meeting with Apple CEO Tim Cook in San Francisco. This is a very important meeting if India's claim to create 'Brand India' in the manufacturing space is concerned. Modi is likely to invite Apple to build a manufacturing facility in India. If this meeting pans out well, it is expected to be a landmark for the country and guide other companies to come to India for manufacturing.
While auto companies are already here, tech companies like Google don't really manufacture. Apple, if it comes, would be really into manufacture and signal Indian manufacturing capabilities.
The Cupertino-based company's sales of iPhones in India grew 93% in the third quarter — albeit off a lower base — faster than 87% growth in Greater China markets. Definitely this is a great time for Apple to invest in India and look at the vast opportunity in this market thereby saving cost. Apple uses manufacturing facilities of Foxconn, which has recently promised to invest $5 billion in manufacturing facility in Maharashtra.
It's believed that Apple may consider manufacture in India for third country markets. There is also talk that Apple might consider facilities in India to refurbish its products. Refurbishing is currently not allowed under India's industrial policy. There would be a demand from Apple to change that policy. It believes its refurbished products (phones, computers, tablets, laptops) have a big market in Asia. They draw a distinction between refurbished and second-hand products and believe that Apple products, if properly refurbished, have a much longer life than, say, Samsung or other similar products.
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