Why Vietnam, You Ask?
Apple’s got a new strategy in place: bring more of its gadgets out of China. The reason? The COVID‑19 pandemic threw a wrench into the Chinese supply chain, and the war in Ukraine made shipments even more finicky. So, Apple is turning to Vietnam— a country that’s already stepping up on the tech stage.
The Who’s Who of the Moves
They’ve kicked off a test run of Apple Watch units in northern Vietnam. We’re talking about the big “making the difference” kind of test, not just a demo.
The same duo as Luxshare is also testing Apple Watch assembly. It’s a joint effort to get the wheels spinning in Vietnam.
Apple has asked Foxconn and Luxshare to set up a trial production line for MacBooks right there in Vietnam. But moving full‑scale production has stalled a bit—it’s a longer route to get all the pieces (and the necessary chips) in sync.
A Little Inside Scoop
The Bigger Picture
These places are getting a bigger slice of the pie as American tech brands seek a more diverse production map.
Foxconn’s Take
Last week, Foxconn (aka Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd) shared a cautious outlook for this quarter. Even though the results were better than expected, they noted that the “post‑pandemic slowdown” in smartphone demand is knocking the door open for new changes.
Bottom Line
Apple’s testing Apple Watch and MacBook lines in Vietnam— a move that could keep it agile amid global logistics hiccups. Thanks to partners like Luxshare and Foxconn, the tech giant is looking beyond China to keep the iPhone, iPad, and MacBook making for the world’s grown‑ups market.
