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Apple COO Jeff Williams in Taiwan for Foxconn’s 50th, as Tim Cook steers clear

Jeff Williams in Taiwan | Taipei skyline pictured

Apple’s chief operating officer Jeff Williams is in Taiwan as a guest of honor for Foxconn’s 50th anniversary celebrations. He’s reportedly joined by his deputy, Sabih Khan.

The rare visit is likely a compromise, enabling the occasion to be marked while CEO Tim Cook continues his policy of avoiding visits to the island …

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Major ramp-up in Apple’s plans to shift production from China, as Foxconn quadruples investment in Indian plant

Major ramp-up in Apple's plans to shift production from China | iPhone 15 models on display

We’re today learning of a major acceleration in plans to shift more production of Apple devices from China to India. In less than one year, Foxconn has increased its planned investment in an Indian plant by almost 400%.

It follows a recent report that Apple has told its battery suppliers that it would like as many iPhone 16 batteries as possible to be manufactured in India …

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Foxconn founder Terry Gou withdraws Taiwanese presidential bid, to likely relief of Apple

Terry Gou withdraws Taiwanese presidential bid | View of Taipei

Foxconn founder Terry Gou has withdrawn his bid to become the next president of Taiwan, issuing a somewhat opaque statement which included the phrase “stop, reset, restart.”

Whatever Gou’s exact meaning, it seems that he is out of the race for good this time around – which will likely come as a relief to Apple execs concerned about potential retaliation by China

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Foxconn decarbonization rating a weak D+, says Greenpeace

Foxconn decarbonization rating | Windfarm at sunrise

A new report has criticized Foxconn’s decarbonization credentials, rating the iPhone assembler at D-plus – the second lowest rating of any final assembly company. The rating is likely to focus attention on the feasibility of Apple’s environmental commitment to make its entire supply chain carbon-neutral by 2030.

Greenpeace issued its report just ahead of the upcoming United Nations COP 28 climate summit, which will review progress made toward the world’s collective climate goals …

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Foxconn revenue to fall in the holiday quarter, as iPhone 15 faces triple challenge

Foxconn revenue to fall | Stock market chart showing decline

In the second piece of somewhat gloomy iPhone news this morning, Foxconn revenue will fall during the holiday quarter, according to the company. This contrasts with its earlier forecast of growth.

More than half of that revenue comes from Apple, as the Cupertino company faces a triple challenge in China

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Apple could again be caught in crossfire as Foxconn investigated; China issues non-denial [U]

China investigates Foxconn | Zhengzhou, home to iPhone City

Apple has already found itself impacted by a diplomatic row between the US and China, and now faces the prospect of being caught up in politics between China and Taiwan. A Chinese investigation of Foxconn has been announced by state media.

Update: China has today described the investigation as a routine police matter, but has not directly addressed the widespread belief that it is attempting to apply political pressure – more at the bottom …

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Indian iPhone plant found ‘highly hazardous’ to worker health in previously secret report

Indian iPhone plant dangers | Red light

An Indian iPhone plant run by Foxconn was temporarily closed down back in 2021 due to major health infractions in worker accommodation – including the presence of rats, food crawling with worms, and toilets without running water.

Now for the first time, we’re learning of the findings of a subsequent government inspection, which revealed many more safety infractions within the plant itself, some of which were described as “highly hazardous” to the health of workers …

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iPhone worker bonuses raised three times in one month, as Foxconn preps for iPhone 15

iPhone worker bonuses raised for third time | Zhengzhou building

Foxconn’s Zhengzhou plant – colloquially known as iPhone City – appears to be struggling to recruit and retain enough staff. The company is reported to have raised iPhone worker bonuses three times in one month as it preps for mass-production of the iPhone 15.

In particular, Foxconn is offering substantial incentives for remaining on the production line for at least three months, to see it through the busiest period, and avoid a repetition of last year’s major disruption …

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New iPhone plants in India, as Apple shifts more production from China; AirPods, too

New iPhone plants in India

The Indian government has today announced that Foxconn has broken ground on $500M worth of new iPhone plants in Telangana, in the south of the country, as Apple continues its efforts to move more production out of China.

At least one of the plants is also expected to manufacture AirPods, after Apple offered Foxconn a new contract for these back in March …

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TSMC Arizona plants facing ‘unacceptable’ US rules; company wants twice as much money

TSMC Arizona plants | A16 chip shown

Act surprised! There’s a potential snag in the plan for Apple chips to be made in the US by TSMC. The company’s A-series and M-series chipmaker says that the US government is imposing “unacceptable” conditions on the two TSMC Arizona plants it is building.

TSMC is said to have been offered tax credits worth $7-8 billion, but a new report says it is looking for the government to double its incentives to around $15B, and to waive the profit-sharing terms attached to the CHIPS Act …

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After Foxconn, Apple chipmaker TSMC revenue also fell in March

TSMC revenue falls | Apple Store, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai

iPhone assembler Foxconn last week reported a 21% year-on-year fall in revenue in March, and we’re today learning Apple chipmaker TSMC revenue also fell in the same month – by 15%.

While there are reasons to be cautious about reading too much into these results, it is near-certain that they give at least some clue as to Apple’s current fortunes …

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New Foxconn plant in India may be half the size of China’s iPhone City

New Foxconn plant | Illustrative shot of large facility

A new Foxconn plant in India looks set to be about half the size of the massive iPhone assembly facility in Zhengzhou, China – colloquially known as iPhone City.

Foxconn’s Zhengzhou plant employs around 200,000 people, and the new Indian facility is said to be creating around 100,000 jobs. It may also represent a key step in Apple building out an extended supply chain in India …

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Apple manufacturing in Vietnam expanding, likely including the 2023 Mac Pro

Apple manufacturing in Vietnam | Da Nang

Apple manufacturing in Vietnam is set to expand, as the Cupertino company continues working on reducing its dependence on China. The 2023 Mac Pro looks likely to be one of the products assembled there, which would mean Apple dropping the “Made in USA” tag used for the 2019 model.

Foxconn already makes iPads and AirPods in Vietnam, but so far hasn’t begun iPhone or Mac assembly in the country …

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iPhone quality standards require 1,200 workers per production line; only 100 for Android

iPhone quality standards | CNC laser cutter

A piece on a change of leadership in Foxconn’s iPhone assembly business includes an eye-opening insight into the iPhone quality standards laid down by Apple.

The new head of iPhone assembly said that while production lines for Chinese Android phones required only 100 workers each, the equivalent iPhone production lines needed 1,200 workers …

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iPhone 14 Pro availability improves after Christmas demand eases, and production increases

iPhone 14 Pro availability | Apple Store staircase

iPhone 14 Pro availability has greatly improved, now that Christmas demand has eased, and production at the world’s biggest assembly plant is reported to have climbed to around 70% of full capacity.

A few models are now available for immediate pickup at some Apple stores, while the company’s US online store is showing 1-2 week delivery for most other orders …

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Sick iPhone workers expected to keep working, refrain from COVID-19 testing, claims report

Sick iPhone workers

A report claims that Foxconn is asking sick iPhone workers to turn up for their shifts in the Zhengzhou plant, with at least one report stating that workers are being advised not to take COVID-19 tests.

Foxconn’s campus in Zhengzhou, China, is the largest iPhone assembly plant in the world, estimated to produce around 80% of the world’s iPhone supply – including all iPhone 14 Pro models …

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Most iPhone City COVID restrictions end, including controversial point-to-point system

iPhone City COVID restrictions | Office building in Zhengzhou

Foxconn has ended most iPhone City COVID restrictions, after the local government removed its Zhengzhou plant from a “high risk” classification. The Chinese government also finally appears to be ending the ultra-strict COVID Zero policy which was behind the restrictions.

Of particular note, the iPhone assembler has ended its controversial point-to-point system, which was a significant source of worker unrest at the plant …

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Foxconn closed-loop production continues, despite end of Zhengzhou lockdown

Foxconn closed-loop production | View of Zhengzhou from the outskirts of the city

Foxconn closed-loop production, in which workers remain inside the campus 24/7 for up to a month at a time, is to continue – despite the fact that most of the city has been released from lockdown.

It had been hoped that a return to normal operation would improve conditions for workers, and help the company recruit new staff to replace those who left, but these hopes appear to have been dashed for now …

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iPhone City lockdown ended, as Foxconn plant troubles estimated to cost Apple $1B/week

iPhone City lockdown | Zhengzhou skyline

The iPhone City lockdown has ended, allowing free movement of residents and workers in Zhengzhou, China. The move will help relieve pressures at the Foxconn plant after a massive production disruption that is estimated to have cost Apple around a billion dollars a week in lost iPhone sales.

The ending of COVID-19 restrictions in the city will allow Foxconn to exit the closed-loop production process, which has been a key factor in the plant’s recent troubles

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