Fire halts production at Indian iPhone factory

Tata was about to double the workforce at the plant

Authorities are investigating a fire that broke out last weekend at a Tata Electronics facility that produces iPhone components in India. Production at the plant has been halted indefinitely.

The plant in Hosur produces back panels and other components for iPhones. A neighboring building was slated to assemble iPhones starting some time this year.

The fire broke out around 5:30am on Saturday, eventually resulting in a collapsed roof. According to a local report, the fire is believed to have started in the unit where mobile phone accessories are painted.

The fire created a chemical hazard that required the evacuation of the 523 workers who were on duty.

Ten people were reported to have received medical treatment, with two hospitalized.

"There has been an unfortunate incident of fire at our plant in Hosur, Tamil Nadu," a Tata Electronics spokesperson told The Register. "Our emergency protocols at the plant ensured that all our employees are safe. The cause of the fire is under investigation and we will take necessary actions to safeguard the interest of our employees and other stakeholders."

On Saturday, Krishnagiri district collector, K M Sarayu, recounted that the fumes created a chemical hazard preventing search and rescue responders from entering the building.

"Unless we are able to go inside and do the assessment, we cannot comment on the cause of the fire, so that will take one or two days," she added.

The same day the fire broke out, Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran announced that the manufacturer was set to hire 20,000 additional employees at the facility. The addition would have doubled the number of total workers.

Tata Electronics began its involvement in the production of Apple products in 2023, as the iThing-maker began to shift some production out of China.

Tata Electronics is the first Indian company to make iPhone components. Apple’s longtime contract manufacturing collaborator, Foxconn, also has a strong presence in India.

Just as hardware makers have looked to India for supply chain diversification, India has also looked to the industry to help boost its economy. Former IT minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar noted in May that Apple expected to have a quarter of all iPhones made in India by 2028. ®