Apple selling iPhones manufactured in India on trial basis

The Dollar Business Bureau

In a bid to test the waters of selling the manufactured iPhones in India, Apple has authorised some select stores to sell a limited number of these phones in the country.

Confirming the news to the media, a PTI source said, "Apple is selling iPhone SE in India at select stores. These phones were assembled in India on trial basis in limited quantities.”

iPhone SE’s manufacturing began in Bengaluru and have hit the markets since May 2. A photo shared by the PTI source showed details of the iPhone SE having 32GB storage capacity with a ‘Designed by Apple in California and Assembled in India’ printed on the box. The cost of this phone inclusive of al taxes is priced at Rs 27,200.

This particular batch of iPhones SEs, whose units were assembled by the company’s Taiwanese partner, Wistron Corp, were completely manufactured in April.

Apple has been trying to gain a foothold and capture a major share of the Indian market by bringing its component manufacturers to India, to make parts and export finished phones. It is seeking tax concessions on the imports of its key components from the Indian government, which is yet to materialise.

Speaking about levelling the special treatment given to mobile giants trying to enter India, the Karnataka IT minister, Priyank Kharge said, “if the Centre was keen on taking on China, it should not give special treatment to Apple alone, but to other players like Samsung and Lenovo also if they are desirous of opening manufacturing units in India.”

He was also of the opinion that when creating a level playing field with all the international players, the government should stick to timelines, incentives and subsidies.