Mike Peterson
Apple supplier Luxshare Precision Industry is planning on raising around $2 billion to fund new projects, such as production lines aimed at wearables like the Apple Watch, and some intended for smart vehicles.
The company plans to issue up to 2.1 billion to up to 35 investors at a price that will be disclosed later, Reuters has reported. With the share issue, Luxshare is aiming to raise up to 13.5 billion yuan.
Luxshare's move comes as the company is working to improve its production capacity in "downstream applications such as consumer electronics and smart vehicles," it said in a filing with the Shenzhen stock exchange that was seen by Reuters.
The six projects include new production lines aimed at smart wearable devices, mobile terminal components, and high-voltage connection systems for vehicles, the filing added.
Luxshare is a prominent Apple supply chain partner based in China known for producing the company's AirPods. In recent years, Luxshare has started winning more iPhone orders from Apple and is constructing a massive new "mega-plant" to challenge established Chinese rivals like Foxconn and Pegatron.
Earlier in February, reports also indicated that Luxshare plans on expanding into the electric vehicle market as rumors of Apple developing its own "Apple Car" continue to surface. Luxshare isn't planning on becoming a carmaker, however, and will likely focus on internal vehicular components.
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38 Comments
I take it the new facilities will be in China and not the US
I know: Analysts are always wrong when it comes to Apple. ...And I have always thought so. BUT, it has been on my mind for the last two years (and I finally heard the same with Jason Snell and John Gruber on podcast) that production in China will someday be a huge problem for Apple. China continues to cause more regional and world problems and postures throughout the Pacific, and no doubt will indeed someday launch its military against Taiwan. No analyst nor Apple exec has even hinted that Apple has a plan for when the shooting starts or the trade penalties hit high gear for ALL of Chinese production. From MacBooks to iPhones and practically all Apple hardware, there is no other place to pick up ALL that production with even one year warning. So, producing NEW categories of Apple hardware in China too? Dang unnerving. Even if Foxconn were Taiwanese-owned, most Foxconn facilities are in an ever increasingly hostile China.