A U.S.-based Apple provider has begun making parts for AirPods in India, marking a big step within the tech large’s push to broaden manufacturing within the nation, experiences Bloomberg.

In line with the information outlet, the Indian unit of Florida-based electronics producer Jabil has begun transport plastic AirPods enclosures to China and Vietnam, making the earbuds the second Apple product after iPhones to be made in India.

The transfer is a part of Apple’s plan to cut back its manufacturing reliance on China, the place lockdown disruptions and US commerce restrictions have made manufacturing extra dangerous.

In line with Jabil’s web site, the corporate operates a 858,000 sq. foot (80,000 sq. meter) facility using greater than 2,500 staff in Pune, western India.

In the meantime, Apple’s China-based suppliers are nonetheless ready for the Indian authorities’s approval to start manufacturing there, with The Financial Occasions reporting that 14 Chinese language corporations have to this point been granted solely preliminary clearance.

The frenzy to realize approval follows information that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s authorities is drawing up plans to supply monetary incentives to corporations that produce wi-fi earphones and smartwatches domestically.

Apple reportedly desires to triple its iPhone manufacturing capability in India inside the subsequent two years. In line with Bloomberg‘s sources, shipments of India-made iPhones to Europe and the Center East are set to achieve $2.5 billion by March 2023, nearly doubling the $1.3 billion price of iPhones the nation exported within the 12 months by March 2022.

The information outlet final 12 months reported that it might take round eight years to maneuver simply 10% of Apple’s manufacturing capability out of China, the place about 98% of iPhones are nonetheless made.