Modi is in a hurry!Half of India's iPhone returns, foreign media: Apple is difficult to leave China.
Apple's iPhone is produced in India.
With the changes of the times, the world economic pattern and industrial structure are also changing. Once upon a time,"Made in China"Renowned all over the world, enterprises from all over the world have established industrial chains in China. Nowadays, with rising labor costs and intensifying frictions between China and the United States, large companies have begun to re-examine the layout of the global industrial chain and have shifted to Southeast Asia and South Asia.
Apple is no exception. For many years, the company has relied on China's labor force and industrial base. But now, it is also actively exploring the Indian market. Foxconn and other OEMs are actively building factories in India and have begun to move the assembly of iPhones and other products to India. Data shows that Foxconn's iPhone shipments in India account for 7%, and it continues to increase.
For Apple, India is a big market that cannot be ignored. "Affluence"With a population of 1.3 billion, India is the world's largest pool of young talent. This means a huge potential for consumption. Therefore, Apple attaches great importance to the Indian market and hopes to seize the opportunity through its industrial layout in India.
However, we should also be aware that India's manufacturing base is still very weak. It is said that the skill level of Indian workers is uneven, and it is difficult to meet Apple's quality requirements. "You get what you pay for"This also reflects that India still has a long way to go.
India hopes to catch up with China in manufacturing, but low labor costs alone are not enough. India also needs to build expertise in technology, management, quality control and other areas.
Therefore, Apple needs to establish a complete industrial chain in India, but at the same time, it also needs a process. In this process, Made in China is still the most important production base and first-chain support. India still has a long way to go from ideal to reality.
iPhone quality problems are frequent in India.
Good quality is the cornerstone of the company's foothold and development. However, judging from some of the problems that arose some time ago, there are quite a few hidden dangers in the quality control of iPhones produced in India.
According to reports, up to half of iPhones produced locally in India are returned for poor quality. This situation has seriously affected the delivery schedule of the product and the normal operation of the company. Not only are there constant user complaints, but the company's costs have also risen dramatically.
What's more, this is just the tip of the iceberg. A sampling inspection of the quality of European iPhones in India showed that only 34 of the 100 samples could meet the European market access standards, and the pass rate was only 34%. This result is undoubtedly shocking.
It fully reflects that India's electronics manufacturing industry is still very flawed in terms of quality control and standards. Compared with China's rich experience accumulated over the years, India's electronics industry started relatively late and is not mature enough in all aspects.
China's manufacturing industry started out without the level of quality it had been some time ago. Over the years, Chinese enterprises have continuously optimized their processes, learned international advanced standards through long-term technology accumulation, and gradually established quality advantages.
In contrast, India's electronics manufacturing industry started late and lacked experience. To truly reach the world-class level, it also requires a lot of practice and innovation, and it is internationally tested.
Therefore, the quality problem is also reasonable. India wants to overtake China quickly, but it clearly has a long way to go. Only by continuously improving the process and improving the skills of employees can it be truly achieved"Sharpen the knife and do not mistake the woodcutter"。
China is still the most important base in the Apple chain.
With the changing Sino-Indian and geopolitical situation, it is clear that Apple wants to reduce its dependence on China by growing in India. But China's manufacturing advantage has proven not to be easily replaced.
First of all, China has a complete industrial cluster and chain system. Taking Apple as an example, driven by leading enterprises such as Foxconn, the Yangtze River Delta region has brought together thousands of upstream and downstream enterprises, forming an industrial agglomeration effect. This allows Apple's parts to be quickly centralized, ensuring production efficiency.
On the other hand, India's industrial support is not perfect, and it is difficult to reach China's level in a short period of time. The one-stop industrial chain needs long-term accumulation, and India still needs to work hard.
Second, with the rise of local mobile phone brands, China is no longer overly dependent on Apple orders. Huawei, Xiaomi and other companies have made great strides in the high-end mobile phone market. China has moved from"Manufacturing"Direction"Create", so not afraid of industrial transfer.
Third, judging from the current situation, there is still a big gap between the overall strength of India's manufacturing industry and China. Whether it is the accumulation of hardware facilities or soft power, the gap between India and China is still very obvious.
Therefore, from a rational point of view, China will remain the most important base in the Apple chain. Even if India has other intentions, it will be difficult to completely replace China in a short period of time. Apple does want to reduce its dependence on China, but it still needs to make persistent efforts. However, in the long run, China-India cooperation and mutual benefit and win-win results are the right way forward.