Apple starts rolling out iPhone SE units assembled in India

Apple has started rolling out the very first batch of its 'Assembled in India' iPhone SE units to select retailers in Bengaluru, The Times of India reported.

The iPhone SE units assembled by Wistron at its facility in the city, come with the text ''Designed by Apple in California, Assembled in India.''

According to the report, the Wistron facility had assembled and shipped out a few thousand units of the handset, but retailers in the city seemed to be extremely short on supply, and claimed to have a "few tens of units" of the 'Assembled in India' iPhones.

The made in India units, however come with a higher price  tag than the ones assembled in China; while the 32GB iPhone SE variant assembled in China costs  Rs23,499 the India-assembled devices would launch at Rs27,200, with the 128GB variant at Rs37,200.

Wistron CEO Robert Hwang had earlier this month said the OEM was being ''very aggressive in expanding [its] presence in India in addition to smartphone business,'' adding that he expected the smartphone business in India to break even next year.

He added that the number of smartphones the manufacturer assembled for Apple in India would depend on the conclusion of Apple's negotiations with the Indian government regarding additional tax duty rebates.

Meanwhile, in a confirmation of the development, Apple said in an official statement,  ''We are beginning initial production of a small number of iPhone SE  in Bengaluru. iPhone SE is the most popular and powerful phone with a four-inch display in the world and we'll begin shipping to domestic customers this month.''

The Hindu had reported last December that Apple's contract manufacturing partner Wistron has plans to set up a plant for exclusive assembly of Apple phones in Bengaluru.

Apple also expected to increase its market share in the country, with the development. The paper reported quoting sources, prices may also be expected to fall in view of the local manufacturing.