The Wire Staff 
New Delhi: Tech giant Apple “has no plans to start manufacturing” iPads and Mac computers in India, Economic Times has reported, quoting insiders, who also said that its move to begin iPad production suffered due a lack of approval from Indian authorities because the vendor was a wholly owned Chinese firm.
Apple, however, is looking to making AirPods – popular listening devices – in the country.
The report comes amidst growing talk on Apple possibly making India its next production hub, although a Financial Times report in February this year had noted how the company is hitting stumbling blocks in India.
During his highly publicised visit to India in April, Apple Inc Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and committed to growth and investment across India.
He also inaugurated Apple’s first retail store in the country in Mumbai.
The insider ET spoke to said that during the visit, Cook did not particularly discuss the finer aspects of Apple’s manufacturing hopes in India, but said that so far making Mac computers has not been discussed.
The official did not speak about iPhones.
The outlook is negative for iPads too, in which Apple had made efforts to shift manufacturing to India in 2021, another official said. But since the vendor was a wholly owned Chinese firm, Apple failed to get Indian government approvals and moved to Vietnam instead last year, the official said. India does not allow participation of Chinese firms who are not in a joint venture with Indian entities.