Tata plans to buy Wistron's iPhone factory in India for $600 million

According to the "India Economic Times" report on November 30, Tata Group is negotiating with Wistron, a communications product supplier, to acquire its card business at a price of 40 billion to 50 billion Indian rupees (about 492 million to 615 million U.S. dollars). Production facility in Nataka. The Narasapura factory in the state is Wistron's only factory in India, making devices and components for Apple. It employs 14000-15000 workers. The deal will boost the manufacturing capabilities of Tata Electronics Ltd (TEPL), which was established in 2020, in precision engineering, the report said.

Currently, Tata Electronics' Hosur factory in Tamil Nadu supplies Apple with components. It employs more than 10,000 workers, mostly women. Tata Electronics' exclusive deal with Apple is part of 'Make in India' and benefits from the Indian government's production-linked incentive scheme.

The report also said that if the deal is not successful, Tata Group may seek to establish a joint venture with Wistron, according to people familiar with the matter. This could be in line with Tata Motors' joint venture with Ford in Gujarat earlier in 2022.

"Tata Motors will be in charge of the project, but Wistron may retain a small share to leverage Apple's global supplier ecosystem. However, the deal is still in progress," said a person familiar with the matter.