Will there be iPad and Macbook “Made in Vietnam”?

Apple has asked Foxconn to relocate production of part of the iPad and MacBook to Vietnam, Reuters said.

“This move has been requested by Apple,” a Reuters source said. They want to diversify production after the trade war breaks out.

The assembly lines are expected to begin production in the first half of next year at Foxconn’s Bac Giang facility, according to Reuters sources. The source noted that Apple wants to diversify its supply chain due to the ongoing trade dispute between the US and China.

“Due to corporate policy and commercially sensitive reasons, we do not comment on any aspect of our work against any of our customers or their products,” Foxconn said. “.

Reuters did not specify which iPad or Mac models will be assembled in Vietnam, as well as how many percent of the output that will be transferred to Vietnam will account for the total output that Apple will move out of China.

But these are not the first Apple products assembled in Vietnam – Apple started producing AirPods Pro in Vietnam earlier this year.

The manufacturer also plans to produce TVs at the Vietnamese factory for customers including Japan’s Sony Corp, with production commencing expected from late 2020 to early 2021, the source said. said.

Apple has also produced certain iPhone models in India for some time now. However, the move to India mainly preceded the US-China trade war and was aimed at supplying the domestic market.

Nikkei also reported that Foxconn is planning to invest 270 million USD in Vietnam to expand its production capacity. The company is said to be moving more than 30% of its production lines outside of mainland China.