TAIPEI – Apple is allocating product development resources for iPad to Vietnam, Nikkei reported on Dec 8, citing sources briefed on the matter.

Apple is working with China’s BYD, a key iPad assembler, to move new product introduction (NPI) resources to Vietnam, the report said, adding that this is the first time the company has shifted NPI resources to Vietnam for such a core device.

Engineering verification for test production of an iPad model will start around mid-February 2024 and the model will be available in the second half of 2024, it said.

Apple and BYD did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.

Apple suppliers, including Luxshare and Foxconn, also invested in the South-east Asian country earlier in 2023 to further diversify production away from China. REUTERS