This is the iPhone Apple will manufacture first in India

It seems Apple doesn’t want to wait for Indian government’s approval to start manufacturing its iPhones in India.

As per various reports, Apple is going to start manufacturing iPhone SE model first in India from its Karnataka plant.

Apple will start assembling 3-4 lakh units of its iPhone SE model at the plant being set up by contract manufacturer Wistron.

"It is Apple's first such venture in India... The demands they have made are for the larger plans of the company to really scale up manufacturing in India,” a senior government official told ET, requesting anonymity.

A person in the contract manufacturing industry told ET Wistron is ready to start assembling the phones and the duty concessions are not connected to the plant.

Apple still awaits Indian government’s nod on tax concessions.

"While the immediate advantage would be the tax benefit of 10-12% if it is manufactured (here) compared with imports, it will also give Apple an edge in India, which is the fastest-growing large market, as opposed to slow growth in China,” Navkendar Singh, senior research manager, client devices, at IDC India, told ET.

It is noteworthy Apple has sought concessions such as 15-year exemption from customs duty, assurance on continuing countervailing duty exemptions on electronic components for the same time period, besides clarity in policy for selling refurbished goods here. It has also sought additional benefits under the Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (M-SIPS).

However, it is yet to whether the government will concede to the demands, especially keeping goods and services tax (GST) in mind.