Apple AirPods' Components Now Getting Manufactured In Pune For Export To China, Vietnam

Apple supplier Jabil Inc. has begun manufacturing components such as plastic enclosures for AirPods at its Pune plant to export them to neighbouring countries like China and Vietnam for assembly, per a Bloomberg report.

What Happened?: In a bid to expand production capabilities in India, Apple AirPods components are now being manufactured in the country by Florida-based global manufacturing services company Jabil. Plastic bodies for AirPods are currently being manufactured in India by Jabil for export to China and Vietnam where Apple currently has its assembly units for its wireless earphones.

Apple has been actively pursuing its expansion of production capabilities in India to reduce its reliance on China where U.S.-imposed trade restrictions and numerous Covid-19-related lockdowns have hurt the company’s manufacturing output in recent times, as per a Bloomberg report.

Thus far, Apple’s manufacturing push in India has been limited to iPhones — which makes AirPods now the second product category to be manufactured in the country.

Jabil operates a 858,000 square foot facility in Pune, Maharashtra, employing more than 2,500 workers, according to its website.

Apple leads the personal audio space globally: According to the market estimates by Canalys, back in December 2022, the global smart personal audio market suffered its second consecutive decline in quarter three (Q3) of 2022, with shipments down 4% to 113.6 million units. That said Apple’s bettered its grip on the global market in the same period.

Apple (including Beats) defended its leadership position with the second-generation AirPods Pro launch in 2022, which led to a 34% increase in shipments and a 31% market share. Sales increased 34% year-over-year, and Apple's market share grew from 24.6% in the third quarter of 2021.