Apple Plans to Move iPad Development Resources to Vietnam

Apple is directing a plan to relocate New Product Introduction processes and resources for the development of iPad products to Vietnam, according to a report by Nikkei. Closely collaborating with BYD, its main iPad assembly partner based in China, Apple aims to transfer essential NPI resources to Vietnam.

NPI, a multifaceted process encompassing research, development, testing, prototype production, and the eventual mass production and marketing of new products, will be a focal point of this shift.

This marks a paradigm shift for Apple, as it traditionally conducted the majority of its NPI activities in China, leveraging the country's extensive hardware manufacturing experience. The technical verification process for producing test samples of the new iPad model is expected to commence in mid-February 2024, with the model potentially ready for launch in the latter half of the following year.

As Apple's largest tablet manufacturer, commanding a 36.6% market share in the first three quarters of 2023, the company's decision to shift NPI resources to Vietnam signifies a major milestone for the country's role in the global tech supply chain. With improved manufacturing conditions and simplified iPad production processes, including modularization and NPI, experts believe that Vietnam is well-positioned to become a central manufacturing hub for Apple's diverse product range.