Apple is moving forward with its plans to expand its manufacturing outside of China

According to a Wall Street Journal report today, Apple and its suppliers plan to produce more than 50 million iPhones a year in India over the next two to three years.

By the end of the decade, this plan hopes to establish India as the location from which a quarter of all iPhones are produced worldwide, indicating a major change in Apple's supply chain strategy.

Despite obstacles like labour laws and infrastructure problems, Apple has been progressively depending more on India and expanding its manufacturing outside of China.

One of Apple's main suppliers, Taiwan-based Foxconn, is driving the expansion. The report stated that this significant expansion has been made possible by the success of Apple's first entry into the Indian market.

This action fits with a larger trend among businesses looking to lessen their reliance on China's supply chains. Southeast Asia and South Asia are part of Apple's strategy, which also includes efforts to diversify its manufacturing footprint.

Apart from its production plans for the iPhone, the Nikkei reported that Apple is working with BYD in China to send product development resources for the iPad to Vietnam.

The iPad model is anticipated to go through engineering verification in the middle of February, and the product is scheduled to launch in the latter part of the upcoming year.

This action highlights Apple's continued efforts to diversify its supply chain and lessen its reliance on a single source of production.

(Sources: investing.com, reuters.com, wsj.com)