Apple has partnered with India’s Tata Group to handle after-sales repairs for iPhones and MacBooks in the country, highlighting the conglomerate’s expanding role in the U.S. tech giant’s supply chain. According to sources familiar with the development, the repairs will be managed from Tata’s iPhone assembly facility in Karnataka.
Tata’s Growing Role in Apple’s India Operations
This move marks a significant shift in Apple’s India operations. Tata will be taking over repair duties from ICT Service Management Solutions, an Indian subsidiary of Taiwan’s Wistron. Tata already assembles iPhones at three plants in southern India, and one of these units also manufactures components for the devices.
As Apple reduces its reliance on China, India is becoming a critical hub for manufacturing and servicing. India, the world’s second-largest smartphone market, saw a record 11 million iPhones sold in 2024, giving Apple a 7% market share — a sharp rise from 1% in 2020, according to Counterpoint Research.
Industry analysts believe this new partnership demonstrates Apple’s growing trust in Tata and may open doors for further collaborations. “Tata’s deeper involvement could potentially enable Apple to introduce refurbished iPhone sales in India, similar to its practice in the U.S.,” said Prabhu Ram, Vice President at CyberMedia Research.
While Apple’s official service centres in India will continue to handle basic repairs, more complex issues will now be routed to Tata’s facility. Wistron’s ICT unit, meanwhile, will continue servicing other clients, excluding Apple.
The transition of repair responsibilities from ICT to Tata is underway. Apple and Wistron have not responded to media inquiries, and Tata has declined to comment officially.
This development aligns with Apple CEO Tim Cook’s recent statement that most iPhones sold in the U.S. in the June quarter will be manufactured in India — further solidifying India’s position in Apple’s global strategy.
