China's Luxshare aims to begin iPhone assembly ahead of schedule

AirPods maker hopes to challenge Foxconn in Apple's flagship device

20201110 iPhone 12

China's Luxshare is aiming to break into the extremely demanding business of iPhone assembly. (Photo by Rie Ishii) 

LAULY LI and CHENG TING-FANG, Nikkei staff writers

TAIPEI -- Chinese electronics maker Luxshare is attempting to break into iPhone manufacturing ahead of schedule, a move backed by Apple and aimed at challenging Taiwanese rival Foxconn, the world's leading assembler of Apple's iconic devices.

Luxshare has dispatched a group of employees to study iPhone production at a Chinese plant it is in the process of buying from Wistron, a smaller Taiwanese assembler, sources familiar with the matter told Nikkei Asia. The move is unusual because the acquisition is not yet final, and Apple rarely if ever allows outside employees to visit suppliers' production sites -- especially during peak iPhone production season.

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