Apple Announces ‘American Manufacturing Program’, Adds US$100 Billion Investment

ISTANBUL, Aug 7 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- US tech giant Apple on Wednesday announced an additional US$100 billion investment in domestic production, bringing its total planned investment in the country to US$600 billion over the next four years, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported.

The package includes a US$2.5 billion commitment to produce all cover glass for the iPhone and Apple Watch at Corning’s manufacturing facility in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, Apple said in a statement.

“For the first time ever, every single new iPhone and every single new Apple Watch sold anywhere in the world will contain cover glass made in Kentucky,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook at the White House.

bootstrap slideshow

Cook noted that Apple had already committed US$500 billion earlier this year to strengthen US manufacturing and that the investment was delivering results.

“We broke ground on a new factory in Houston to make advanced AI servers. Last month, the very first test unit rolled off that factory’s line, proudly made in America,” he said.

As part of the new commitment, Apple is launching the American Manufacturing Programme, which Cook said will increase production of critical components in the US.

The company has signed new agreements with 10 American firms.

Apple is also working to build a full silicon supply chain within the US, from design to packaging, in partnership with various companies.

Cook highlighted Apple’s role in bringing Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) to Arizona, where it now produces tens of millions of chips for Apple.

This year alone, 19 billion chips for Apple are expected to be produced across 24 factories in 12 states.

Cook also announced Apple’s commitment to purchasing US-made advanced rare earth magnets from MP Materials, the only fully integrated rare earth producer in the US.

MP will expand its Fort Worth facility and establish rare earth recycling lines in California and Kentucky.

In addition, Apple is expanding its investments in artificial intelligence, including boosting data centre capacity in North Carolina, Nevada, Iowa, Arizona and Oregon.

Apple’s investment plans follow the Trump administration’s push for the company to relocate production to the US.

In May, President Donald Trump warned Apple would face a 25 per cent tariff if iPhones were not manufactured domestically.

-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU