Apple's[1] primary iPhone[2] assembler in India is scouting for about 100 acres of land in Bengaluru to expand its facilities for the world's most valuable company, according to people familiar with the matter said.
Wistron[3] executives toured the city last week and have shortlisted a few parcels including one plot close to the airport, said the people, asking not to be named because the matter is private. The Taiwanese manufacturer, which began making[4] the iPhone SE[5] in India this year, may use the facilities to supply other brands too, they said. Wistron did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Apple has been a minor player in India, the world's fastest growing smartphone market, largely because its phones are more expensive than those of rivals such as Samsung[6] and Xiaomi[7]. Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook[8] made his first trip to the country last year[9], meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi[10] and expressing hopes for an expanded presence.
On Apple's earnings call last week, Cook said the company has " great momentum in India, where revenue doubled year over year." He said he's confident the company can gain ground, but it will take work on many fronts.
"It's building stores. It's building channels. It's building markets. It's building the developer ecosystem," he said. "It's having the right product lineup for the market. And I feel like we're making good progress there and are gaining understanding of the market, but we still have a long way to go."
Apple's devices are particularly expensive in India because the government levies tariffs on devices manufactured outside the country. That...