Apple’s attempt to diversify manufacturing to India is being stymied by New Delhi’s coronavirus crisis

Apple has been hit by Covid-19 infections at two of its India plants, according to Taiwan media report. The coronavirus wave is likely to slow handset manufacturing production in India and weaken consumer demand, analysts say. — SCMP

Apple’s efforts to diversify its production from China to India are being hit by the Covid-19 crisis there, with infections and factory shutdowns prompting analysts to question whether the country can become a smartphone manufacturing and export superpower.

According to a report by Taiwanese news agency CNA on Saturday, Foxconn confirmed that 10 Chinese engineers at its plant in the Indian city of Chennai had been infected with Covid-19. Meanwhile Wistron Corporation, another key player in Apple’s manufacturing chain, closed its plant in south India for five days after a spate of Covid-19 cases, according to the CNA report.