Apple iPhone assemblers want to move production out of China
Foxconn plans on following Pegatron’s strategy by boosting its component business in order to battle competitors. Foxconn Chairman Young Liu said during a quarterly earnings call last week that the company is moving manufacturing capacity out of China and into Southeast Asia and other markets to avoid tariffs on exports to the U.S. The executive said, “No matter if it’s India, Southeast Asia or the Americas, there will be a manufacturing ecosystem in each.” Liu told investors that while China will still be an important manufacturing region as far as Foxconn is concerned, the country’s “days as the world’s factory are done.” Last year he said that if the trade war required Foxconn to move iPhone production out of China if need be. The company has been manufacturing some iPhone models in India via Wistron and Foxconn.
This minor shakeup shouldn’t have any effect on the 5G 2020 iPhone 12 family. The latest rumor has which will be released a few weeks later than normal due to the pandemic. The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Max are expected to be available to pre-order on October 2nd and ship exactly one week later. The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max could be ready for pre-orders on October 16th and ship on October 23rd.