[News] China’s Leading EV Maker Rises as a Major Assembler of iPads

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BYD, often hailed as Tesla’s top competitor, has been steadily expanding its influence in the electronics manufacturing sector. According to The Wall Street Journal, BYD has emerged as the major assembler of iPads and supplies titanium frames for iPhones. The company has deployed over 110,000 employees to serve Apple’s supply chain.

BYD states that its goals in electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing and electronics contract manufacturing align: achieving low-cost production of precision devices.

In the EV industry, BYD’s dominance is unmistakable. TrendForce’s latest report reveals that BYD retained its position as the global leader in PHEV sales during Q3, achieving record-breaking sales and a market share surpassing 40%.

However, BYD’s reach extends beyond vehicles. BYD Electronic, a subsidiary, has emerged as a significant revenue stream outside of EVs. As noted in the same Wall Street Journal report, BYD recorded $28 billion in revenue in Q3 this year, surpassing Tesla for the first time, with $6 billion generated by BYD Electronic.

Despite Apple’s ongoing efforts to diversify its supply chain away from China, shifting production lines to countries like India and Vietnam, its flagship products, the iPhone and iPad, still heavily rely on two Chinese manufacturers—Luxshare Precision and BYD Electronic.

As reported by YiCai Global, Apple CEO Tim Cook acknowledged during his visit to Beijing in November that Apple could not achieve its success without its Chinese partners and emphasized his high regard for them.

The same Wall Street Journal report noted that while Foxconn still dominates the majority of iPhone and iPad assembly orders, BYD now manages over 30 percent of iPad orders and supplies titanium frames for the iPhone Pro.

The Wall Street Journal reports that beyond Apple, BYD Electronic has also secured major clients such as Xiaomi, assembling smartphones and providing EV technology for Xiaomi’s venture into the EV market. Another Chinese tech giant, Huawei, has partnered with BYD to co-develop autonomous driving technologies. BYD also supplies hinge components for Samsung’s foldable phones.

(Photo credit: BYD)