In a significant move indicating its expanding presence in India, Apple has partnered with Tata Group for the repair services of iPhones and MacBook devices. This collaboration points to the Indian conglomerate’s growing integration into Apple’s supply chain, according to sources familiar with the arrangement.
As Apple seeks alternatives to China for its manufacturing needs, Tata has rapidly established itself as a crucial supplier. The group is already engaged in assembling iPhones for both domestic and international markets at three facilities in southern India, including one that produces certain components for the devices.
This new agreement will see Tata take over repair operations previously managed by Wistron’s Indian unit, ICT Service Management Solutions. Tata will handle after-sales repairs directly from its campus where iPhones are assembled in Karnataka, as stated by the sources.
With the burgeoning demand for smartphones in India — the second-largest smartphone market in the world — the repair market is poised for substantial growth alongside rising iPhone sales. According to Counterpoint Research, around 11 million iPhones were sold in India last year, securing Apple a seven percent share of the market, significantly up from one percent in 2020.
This latest contract reflects Apple’s increasing trust in Tata, as the company aims to expand its business with the leading smartphone manufacturer globally.
Prabhu Ram, Vice President at Cybermedia Research, noted that this enhanced relationship may open opportunities for Apple to sell refurbished devices in India, similar to its current operations in the United States.
The transition of repair responsibilities from ICT to Tata is ongoing, according to the unnamed sources involved, who have been granted no authority to comment publicly on the matter.
While official Apple service centers across India will continue to perform basic repairs, more complicated issues will be referred to Tata’s facility for resolution.
Wistron’s ICT will maintain its service operations for other clients, excluding Apple, according to one of the sources.
In light of potential tariffs from the U.S. on Chinese goods, India is emerging as a preferred hub for iPhone exports. Apple CEO Tim Cook has indicated that a significant portion of iPhones sold in the United States during the June quarter will be produced in Indian factories.
© Thomson Reuters 2025
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
