William Gallagher
Apple is reportedly working to diversify its iPad and MacBook production to avoid potential trade dispute problems between China and the US.
Following Apple's previous move to have AirPods and AirPods Pro made in Vietnam, the company has reportedly asked Foxconn to expand in the country. It's asked Foxconn to move some portion of both its iPad and MacBook assembly to Vietnam, though there is no confirmed date for the change.
According to Reuters, Apple has asked Foxconn to do this as part of a general move to reduce its reliance on China.
"The move was requested by Apple," an unnamed source told Reuters. "It wants to diversify production following the trade war."
No dates or specific details about what proportion of production will be moved. However, Reuters reports that Foxconn's iPad and MacBook plant in Vietnam's Bac Giang province is expected to begin production for Apple in the first half of 2021.
The publication also reports that it is believed all iPads are current assembled in China. This would mean that it's the first time the work would be done outside that country.
Neither Apple nor Foxconn has confirmed the report.
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146 Comments
I see Apple is moving up, from doing business with a country that gets 2.26 (out of 10) on the democracy index (China) to a country that gets 3.06 (Viet Nam). I would much rather see Apple do its business in a higher scoring country, perhaps India (6.90) or Brazil (6.86.) I guess Apple's core values don't include freedom or democracy or human rights. Well, at least they aren't doing business with North Korea (1.08), or Saudi Arabia (1.93). I guess Apple wouldn't do business with Saudi Arabia because Apple has strong LGBTQ values.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_Index <--
By the way, on environmental indexes, Viet Nam is near the bottom. Although India is even closer to the bottom.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_Performance_Index <--
This is an immensely complicated decision. Take a moment to consider then prioritize just 10 factors in the decision. Always, human rights are in conflict with lowest cost of labor. Moving all production to the US, where reliable folks wouldn’t even apply for a job for less than 20/hour + benefits, would double the cost of a respective product, pricing that product out of competitive contention in the marketplace. A dead company has no ability to influence human rights and democracy!