Τις τελευταίες εβδομάδες, η Apple Inc. έχει επιταχύνει τα σχέδια της να μεταφέρει μέρος της παραγωγής της εκτός Κίνας. Προτεινόμενες χώρες η Ινδία και το Βιετνάμ.
Η αναταραχή σε ένα μέρος που ονομάζεται iPhone City και που είναι μία πόλη 300.000 εργαζομένων μέσα στην Κινέζικη πόλη Τσεντσόου (Zhengzhou), βοήθησε να προωθηθεί η ιδέα για αλλαγή της χώρας συναρμολόγησης της Apple.
In iPhone City, about 300.000 work in a factory run by Foxconn Technology Group to make iPhones and other Apple products. At one point, about 85% of the Pro line of iPhones was manufactured there. But the Zhengzhou factory was rocked in late November by violent protests.
In videos posted online, workers upset over wages and Covid-19 restrictions can be seen throwing objects and shouting "Stand up for your rights!"
But that was the icing on the cake, as a series of events have weakened China's status as a stable manufacturing hub for Apple, and it no longer feels comfortable having so much of its business tied up in one place.
While we believe that Apple's decision is part of a larger political shift in America, to state the facts dryly we tell you that the Apple wishes to makes 40% to 45% of iPhones in India, compared to a single-digit percentage currently.
Also, suppliers report that Vietnam is also expected to take over much of the production for other Apple products, such as AirPods, smartwatches and laptops.
For now, consumers in America looking to do their Christmas shopping are stuck with long wait times for iPhones. There is talk of workers missing from the Zhengzhou factory, with estimates ranging from thousands to tens of thousands.
Bear in mind that Foxconn accounts for 3,9% of China's exports, at least for 2021.
