NEW DELHI: Foxconn<\/a>, maker of iPhones and Xiaomi<\/a> devices<\/a>, and Wistron<\/a>, which also makes Apple smartphones, are set to resume production after obtaining permission from state authorities in southern India, marking the restart of India’s handset production which had to close down totally amid the Covid-19 induced lockdown, losing some Rs 20,000-Rs 25,000 crore.
However, companies such as Dixon, Samsung, Oppo and Lava, which have factories at Noida and Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh, continue to be in a limbo due to lack of clarity on starting operations.
Manu Jain, India head at Chinese handset maker Xiaomi, said that its manufacturing partners will soon resume production after getting local approvals from state governments. Foxconn, Xiaomi’s manufacturing partner, has received approval from the Andhra Pradesh government for the Sri City plant and will start production soon.
“The ramp-up will be slow. We are hoping them to be up and running soon,” Jain said on Monday.
Muralikrishnan B., chief operating officer, at Xiaomi India added the company expects to hit regular capacity by June, with labour shortage a key issue.
A person familiar with the matter said that Foxconn has got approval to resume production with 10% workforce, but getting people is a big challenge. \"In South, employees can't travel from one state to another, which is a challenge as Sri City factories can't have employees from adjacent states. \"
Wistron, on its part, got an approval from the Karnataka government.
“…Noida and Greater Noida region are the biggest concerns,” India Cellular & Electronics Association (ICEA<\/a>) chairman Pankaj Mohindroo told ET.
\"Multiple issues plague us now regarding labour and staff but we will surmount them. Psycholgically also labour is fearful about safety but when they find world class sop’s in play their confidence will increase.Departure of labour to their home towns should be avoided by motivating them.In all by end May we hope to be at 30% of normalcy, \" Mohindroo added.
Wistron’s rented facility in an industrial suburb near Bengaluru makes the iPhone<\/a> 7, while Foxconn’s Tamil Nadu plant assembles the iPhone XR. Foxconn also makes phones for Xiaomi and HMD (Nokia-branded phones).
Handsets makers in UP are, meanwhile, awaiting state government nods to to restart their factories in Noida and Greater Noida, which are in the red zone.
<\/p>Read also<\/h4>