The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued a notice to Apple Inc after receiving complaints regarding performance issues following its iOS 18+ software update.

Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said in a post on X that CCPA is seeking a response from Apple after reviewing the grievances made to the National Consumer Helpline. 

“After receiving complaints on the National Consumer Helpline regarding performance issues in #iPhones following the iOS 18+ software update, the department, after examining these grievances, has issued a notice to #Apple through the CCPA, seeking a response on the matter,” Joshi shared on X. 

Apple has declined to comment on Inc42’s queries pertaining to the development.

The development comes at a time when the Competition Commission of India (CCI) reportedly agreed last month to bring Apple inside a “confidentiality ring” ahead of the final hearing related to the antitrust case. The move enables the big tech company to access confidential information pertaining to the antitrust case. 

Earlier last year, CCI found the iPhone maker guilty of abusing its dominant position in the app store market. Notably, Apple has been under CCI’s lens since 2021.

Last week, with rising sales of its flagship iPhone devices, the company rolled out the Apple Store app in India as it looks to ramp up its retail presence in the country. 

It was also reported a few days ago that Apple surpassed INR 1 lakh Cr mark in iPhone exports from India in 2024, with total shipments reaching a record $12.8 Bn. This represents a 42% increase compared to the previous year. 

Domestic production has also seen a dramatic increase, rising nearly 46% year-on-year to reach $17.5 Bn.

In another recent development, the tech giant informed its investors that Kevan Parekh assumed office as the company’s senior vice president and chief financial officer (CFO) on January 1, 2025.

The post CCPA Notice To Apple Over iPhone Performance Issues Post Update appeared first on Inc42 Media.

Amid rising sales of its flagship iPhone devices in the country, tech giant Apple has rolled out the Apple Store app in India as it looks to ramp up its retail presence in the world’s second-largest smartphone market.

Users can download the app from the App Store and purchase Apple products directly while receiving customised shopping recommendations, the iPhone maker said in a statement on Friday (January 16).

The Apple Store app features dedicated tabs for products, customised shopping recommendations, and after-purchase support such as online personal setup sessions with Apple specialists.

Additionally, the app lets shoppers upgrade their Mac devices with a more powerful chip, extra memory, or additional storage. It also offers delivery and pickup of Apple products.

“At Apple, our customer is at the centre of everything we do, and we are thrilled to introduce the Apple Store app to reach even more users in India, further deepening our connections,” said Karen Rasmussen, Apple’s head of Retail Online.

The move comes at a time when Apple is looking to strengthen its footprint in India. The year 2023 saw the iPhone maker opening its first physical stores in Delhi and Mumbai. The tech giant is set to open four more brick-and-mortar stores in Bengaluru, Pune, Delhi NCR, and Mumbai in the coming days.

India is the second-largest smartphone market in the world and is increasingly becoming an important geography for Apple. The company reportedly clocked its higher-ever sales of nearly $8 Bn in the country in the financial year 2023-24 (FY24).

Apple has also been doubling down on its manufacturing capabilities in India as it looks to reduce its dependence on China. Earlier, it was reported that Apple was set to begin assembling iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models in India.

Amid rising disposable income and growing demand for iPhones, Apple’s iPhone exports from India surpassed the 1 Lakh Cr mark in 2024.

The post Now, Apple Brings Store App To India appeared first on Inc42 Media.

Digital and new commerce businesses accounted for 18% of the total revenue of Reliance Retail in the third quarter (Q3) of the financial year 2024-25 (FY25). 

Overall, Reliance Retail’s operating revenue jumped 7% to INR 79,595 Cr during the quarter under review from INR 74,373 during the corresponding quarter last fiscal. Net profit rose 10% to INR 3,458 Cr from INR 3,145 Cr in Q3 FY24. 

On a sequential basis, net profit grew 21.9% from INR 2,836 Cr and operating revenue rose 19.6% from INR 66,502 Cr. 

“… (the) retail segment delivered a strong performance, with noteworthy contribution(s) from all formats. The business ably capitalised on the pick-up in consumption amid festive demand during the quarter,” said Reliance Industries Ltd’s (RIL) chairman and managing director Mukesh Ambani.

The conglomerate said that its new commerce offering, JioMart, expanded its product range with a 33% year-on-year (YoY) increase in the seller base. RIL also said that JioMart continued to scale its express delivery proposition and saw a robust growth in its performance parameters. 

According to the company, the express delivery model takes help from the company’s existing infrastructure of 2,100 stores. It also added that the express delivery is available in 4,000 pincodes in categories like grocery, general merchandise, electronics, fashion, among others. 

“… We are creating through JioMart – express deliveries, scheduled deliveries coupled with Milkbasket – subscription services, a seamless shopping experience that serves diverse customers across all categories and catchment,” said Isha Ambani, executive director of Reliance Retail Ventures. 

The company also added that Milkbasket saw a 20% YoY growth in its monthly active users and 24% YoY growth in gross merchandise value (GMV).  

Reliance said its flagship fashion ecommerce brand AJIO onboarded 1.9 Mn new customers during the quarter ended December 2024. Its average basket value (ABV) grew 7% YoY. “The platform (AJIO) expanded its product catalogue to 2.2 Mn, up 33% YoY adding over half a Mn new options during this year,” the company said in a statement. 

Meanwhile, RIL’s digital arm Jio Platforms saw a 26% increase in its consolidated net profit to INR 6,861 Cr in Q3 FY25 from INR 5,447 Cr in the year-ago quarter.

The post Reliance Retail Q3: Digital & New Commerce Business Account For 18% Of Revenue appeared first on Inc42 Media.

Apple has surpassed INR 1 lakh Cr mark in iPhone exports from India in 2024, with total shipments reaching a record $12.8 Bn (around INR 1.08 Lakh Cr), as per ET’s report. 

This represents a 42% increase compared to the previous year. 

Apple’s local value addition has improved significantly, now estimated between 15-20% depending on the model. This is a substantial increase from just 5-8% when the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme was first implemented. 

Domestic production has also seen a dramatic increase, rising nearly 46% year-on-year to reach $17.5 Bn (INR 1.48 Lakh Cr). This growth underscores Apple’s commitment to establishing a robust manufacturing base in India, which is now its second-largest iPhone production hub after China. 

In 2023, Apple recorded exports worth $9 Bn, which accounted for approximately three-fourths of its domestic manufacturing output valued at $12 Bn.

Apple’s growing influence in India’s manufacturing sector and the effectiveness of government policies like the PLI scheme were said to be instrumental in this growth. 

Apple’s success is part of a larger trend where electronics exports from India have surged, with iPhones playing a pivotal role in this growth.

It is pertinent to note that Apple has been looking to double down on its capacities in India, be it manufacturing or on the retail front. 

Last month, it was reported that India is set to be Apple’s third largest market by 2026, after China and the US. 

With India growing disposable income and propensity to buy Iphones, the company has begun manufacturing its entire iPhone 16 lineup in India while also planning to open four more retail stores across major cities by 2025. 

Further bolstering the manufacturing efforts, Apple recently set up a new subsidiary called Apple Operations India, aimed at research, design, testing and providing support to third party manufacturers.

However, the company has been alleged of violating the competition law in the country. Recently, CCI also decided to continue its investigation into Apple, rejecting the company’s request to halt a probe report accusing the tech giant in violation of competition laws.

The post Apple’s iPhone Exports From India Breaches INR 1 Lakh Cr Mark In 2024 appeared first on Inc42 Media.

Ecommerce giant Amazon has begun testing its quick commerce delivery service ‘Tez’ with its employees in select pincodes of Bengaluru.

The company confirmed with Inc42 that it began piloting Tez in December.

“We are always innovating to offer even more value to customers, and this limited pilot in select pin codes of Bengaluru is a trial to offer even faster speeds on a selection of everyday essentials from our sellers, that customers often need quickly,” said an Amazon spokesperson.

Amazon India country manager Samir Kumar last month said that the company will delivery grocery and other daily essentials in under 15 minutes as part of the new offering.

A report by the Economic Times suggested that Amazon has started onboarding dark stores in some busy areas of Bengaluru, but it is largely banking on third-party logistics firms for its quick commerce delivery services.

Over the past few months, a number of new-age tech companies, including the likes of Nykaa, Myntra and Flipkart have jumped on the quick commerce bandwagon.

While Myntra rolled out a pilot of its quick commerce service M-Now in select Bengaluru pincodes in November, Nykaa piloted a 10-minute delivery service in Mumbai in October.

Several D2C brands such as Pilgrim and Rare Rabbit are also trying out their own quick commerce models.

Amazon’s  foray into quick commerce comes at a time when established players Zomato-owned Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart and Zepto are changing gears in 2025 to expand their offerings amid a sharp increase in sales.

The trio cumulatively generated a revenue of almost $1 Bn in the financial year 2023-24.

Amid rising competition in the quick commerce market, foodtech giant Swiggy is transitioning from its unified app approach to launching separate apps under the brand. Earlier this week, the Sriharsha Majety-led company rolled out a new app, ‘SNACC’, targeting 15-minute food delivery service in select parts of Bengaluru. 

The company also made its foray into the services marketplace segment with the launch of a new app, Pyng Professional.

Zomato has launched its own 15-minute food delivery service, following in the footsteps of Swiggy’s Bolt.

Meanwhile, quick commerce unicorn Zepto split its cafe business into a separate app to shore up revenue and keep up with its competitors. The Aadit Palicha-led company is planning to file its draft IPO papers in March-April 2025 ahead of its eventual public listing.

The post Amazon Testing Quick Commerce Delivery Service ‘Tez’ With Staff In Bengaluru appeared first on Inc42 Media.

Months after making the announcement, tech giant Apple has informed its investors that Kevan Parekh assumed office as the company’s senior vice president and chief financial officer (CFO) on January 1, 2025.

The Indian-origin executive took over the position from Luca Maestri, who served as the CFO at Apple for ten years.

Along with the promotion, Parekh’s annual salary has increased to $1 Mn, the company in a Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing on Friday (January 3).

“…he (Parekh) is eligible to participate in the Apple Inc. Executive Cash Incentive Plan for fiscal year 2025 on the same basis as Apple’s other named executive officers,” the company added.

It is pertinent to note that Parekh joined Apple back in 2013. In his 11 years of stint at the company, Parekh served at various leadership positions including vice president for financial planning and analysis and vice president for finance for sales, marketing, and retail.

Prior to joining Apple, Parekh worked with giants like Thomson Reuters and General Motors Corporation.

As per Apple, Parekh was also awarded with performance based restricted stock units (“RSUs”) under the Apple Inc. Employee Stock Plan 2022, which is scheduled to vest on October 1, 2027. 

This comes at a time when Apple is shifting its manufacturing focus to India. The tech giant is mulling to assemble 32% of the global iPhone production volume and 26% of its value in India by 2026-27. 

In its manufacturing effort, Apple recently marked its first direct presence in India by setting up a new subsidiary called Apple Operations India. This subsidiary aims to focus on research, design, testing and providing support to third party manufacturers.

Amid growing sales, the company is also mulling to open four more retail stores across  Bengaluru, Pune, Delhi NCR, and Mumbai.

The post Kevan Parekh Takes Over As Apple’s New CFO appeared first on Inc42 Media.

Xiaomi India has roped in Sandeep Singh Arora as its chief business officer as a part of its effort to drive strategic growth.

In his new role, Arora will lead the company’s business development initiatives, drive revenue growth, cultivate new strategic partnerships and expand its market presence

With more than 30 years of experience in managing and growing consumer brands, he was with Samsung India’s consumer electronics division as head of the online business unit and then the head of marketing communications. 

He has also held senior leadership roles as VP of marketing at Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd, category director and EVP of marketing at PepsiCo India and Unilever. 

“Xiaomi India is at the forefront of transforming the tech landscape in India and its commitment to making innovative technology accessible to all is truly inspiring….our focus will be on delivering exceptional products to aspirational Indians”, said Arora.

The development also comes after over three months when Xiaomi India roped in former Motorola Mobility India managing director Sudhin Mathur as its new chief operating officer (COO).

Also, in November last year, Xiaomi India president Muralikrishnan B announced his departure from the company after six years.

Meanwhile, Xiaomi is also planning to bring generative AI (GenAI) user applications to its smartphones in India soon. The initiative will majorly cover Xiaomi’s upper-mid range smartphones which are priced around INR 40K.

In September last year, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) accused smartphone brands, including Xiaomi and Samsung of collaborating with Amazon and Flipkart to exclusively roll out their products on these ecommerce platforms’ Indian sites in breach of antitrust laws.

Following that, Xiaomi wrote a letter to CCI, asking the authority to withdraw its report as it contained some sensitive company data, including model-wise sales.

The post Xiaomi India Ropes In Samsung Veteran Sandeep Singh Arora As CBO appeared first on Inc42 Media.

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has initiated insolvency proceedings against Hero Electric after its vendor Metro Tyres filed a petition claiming that Hero Electric has defaulted on payments amounting to INR 1.85 Cr.

This decision was made after the tribunal found no merit in Hero Electric’s argument that there was a pre existing dispute regarding the quality of the supplied goods by Metro Tyres.

It is pertinent to note that Metro Tyres supplied tyres and tubes to Hero Electric between August and December 2022, charging a total of INR 3.69 Cr. Of this, Hero paid only INR 4.27 lakh, while a payment worth INR 1.85 Cr remained pending despite repeated requests for payment. 

Although Hero contended that it withheld payments due to tyre defects, including tread separation and air leakage. 

But the tribunal undermined Hero’s plea saying that it did not raise any quality concerns until nine months after the last delivery and continued to purchase goods from Metro Tyres without raising any issues. 

The tribunal described Hero Electric’s arguments as “not just a moonshine or feeble legal argument.”

The NCLT’s decision included declaring a moratorium on Hero Electric’s assets to prevent any transfers or encumbrances during the insolvency process.

Moreover, as per the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, the tribunal has suspended the Hero Electric board and replaced it with the appointment of interim resolution professional Bhoopesh Gupta to oversee the company.

The development comes a week after Delhi High Court asked the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) to continue its investigation against Hero Electric Vehicle. This investigation is regarding alleged FAME II scheme violation charges against Hero Electric. 

Just before that, there were reports of failed settlement talks between Hero Electric and the Union Ministry of Heavy Industries. 

Earlier in October,  Hero Electric agreed to pay penalties for any violation or lack of compliance related to the EV subsidy scheme. Additionally, the EV manufacturer approached the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) to settle the dispute.

The scrutiny of Hero Electric is part of a larger crackdown on 13 EV manufacturers accused of similar violations under the FAME II scheme. 

The FAME II scheme was a subsidy scheme launched by the Indian government in 2019. It mandated Indian manufacturers to use 50% of domestic components. 

Purportedly, Hero Electric, Okinawa Autotech and Benling India, among others violated the mandate but claimed the subsidies.

The post NCLT Initiates Insolvency Proceedings Against Hero Electric Over Pending Vendor Dues appeared first on Inc42 Media.

Stepping up its antitrust probe into Apple, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has now reportedly agreed to bring the big tech major inside a “confidentiality ring” ahead of the final hearing in the matter next year. 

The watchdog agreed to set up the “confidentiality ring” last week, NDTV Profit reported, citing sources. The move will enable the big tech major to access confidential information pertaining to the antitrust case before the CCI kicks off final hearing in the case. 

Introduced in 2022, the regime allows parties to have access to confidential information or documents relating to other parties in a probe to better defend themselves. Subject to certain riders, the confidentiality ring helps regulators dispose of cases fast. 

“Under the confidentiality ring, selective parties, including Apple, get access to sensitive confidential information. Post access of information, Apple may be required to file a reply on the CCI probe report, and accordingly, the hearing will begin,” a source was quoted as saying. 

Apple will have four weeks to furnish information sought by the watchdog in this case. 

The source added, “Apple and some other selectively related entities will be given a chance to physically verify the documents and details of the probe report and maybe be given a certified copy of those documents”.

The development comes a month after reports claimed that the CCI rejected Apple’s request for putting on hold an antitrust report that detailed the big tech giant’s violation of competition laws in the country. 

In its plea, Apple had claimed that the main complainant, non-profit Together We Fight Society (TWFS), failed to comply with the watchdog’s directives to destroy earlier investigation reports.

The CCI, in August, had ordered an unusual recall of investigation reports after Apple claimed the watchdog disclosed commercial secrets to its competitors, including Tinder-owner Match, in connection with the antitrust probe. Thereafter, the Commission directed the parties to return the reports and destroy any copies. Following this, it issued new reports.

The watchdog kicked off its investigation against Apple in 2021 on allegations of the company abusing its dominant position in the app marketplace space and forcing developers to use its in-app payments system.

Subsequently, earlier this year, reports said that the CCI internally found the Cupertino-based big tech guilty of flouting competition laws and implementing unfair trade practices. 

It is pertinent to highlight that Apple is not the only big tech company under the radar of the CCI. In 2022, the watchdog imposed two separate penalties, totalling over INR 2,200 Cr, on Google for abusing its dominant position in the Android devices market and with respect to its Play Store policies. 

In November this year, the CCI also slapped a penalty of INR 213.14 Cr on social media giant Meta for abusing its dominant position in connection with the 2021 WhatsApp privacy policy update. 

Later, the Commission also internally found ecommerce giants Amazon and Walmart-owned Flipkart guilty of flouting competition laws by preferring certain sellers on their platforms.

The post CCI Sets Up Confidentiality Ring To Expedite Apple Antitrust Probe appeared first on Inc42 Media.

Shares of SaaS startup Unicommerce fell nearly 3% in early trading hours today (December 23) to hit an all-time low at INR 161.05 apiece on the BSE.

The company made a stellar market debut in August this year, with its shares listing at INR 230 on the BSE, a 113% premium over the IPO issue price.

However, the stock has been unusually weak in recent months. Unicommerce shares have ended in the red in 9 out of the last 10 trading sessions. Since listing on bourses, the stock has plummeted over 28%.

At the time of writing, the market capitalisation of Unicommerce stood at INR 1,653.80 Cr (around $194.3 Mn).

Founded in 2012 by Karun Singla, Ankit Pruthi and Vibhu Garg, and later joined by Manish Gupta, Unicommerce is an ecommerce SaaS company that helps sellers manage their inventory across all online marketplaces. It offers integrations with all major Indian ecommerce platforms.

The company was acquired by Snapdeal in 2015 for an undisclosed amount.

Shares of Unicommerce have been on a decline since the company informed bourses of its plans to acquire a 42.7% stake in commerce shipping solutions provider Shipway for INR 68.4 Cr last month.

During the company’s earnings call for the September quarter of the financial year 2024-25 (Q2 FY25), investors had raised concerns about the integration challenges that are plaguing mergers and acquisitions in the software industry.

Unicommerce’s net profit rose 21% to INR 4.47 Cr in Q2 FY25 from INR 3.69 Cr in the same quarter last year. 

Operating revenue jumped 13% to INR 29.30 Cr during the quarter under review from INR 25.93 Cr in Q2 FY24.

Earlier this month, Inc42 reported that Ajinkya Jain stepped down from his role of company secretary at Unicommerce, citing “personal reasons and commitments.”

Shares of Unicommerce were trading at INR 162 on the BSE at 3:38 PM, 2.06% lower than the previous close.

The post Unicommerce Shares Tumble 3% To Hit Fresh All-Time Low At INR 161.05 appeared first on Inc42 Media.

Amid the alleged FAME II scheme violation charges, the Delhi High Court has reportedly asked the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) to continue its investigation against Hero Electric Vehicle. 

As per ET’s report, the approval came yesterday (December 20), right after the court was informed that the settlement talks between Hero Electric and the Union Ministry of Heavy Industries failed. The government rejected the settlement proposal sent by the company.

Earlier this month, the court reportedly restricted SFIO from taking any action against Hero Electric and put a pause on investigation. Back then, the court also allowed Hero Electric to send a settlement proposal to the ministry. 

The probe began back in March this year when Hero Electric, Okinawa Autotech and Benling India failed to return the subsidies which were wrongly obtained under the phase II of Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme.

In October, Hero Electric agreed to pay penalties for any violation or lack of compliance related to the EV subsidy scheme. Additionally, the EV manufacturer approached the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) to settle the dispute.

Just a few days later, SFIO sealed Hero Electric’s Gurugram premises amid this probe. At that time SFIO’s Director of Investigation, Sumit Kasana warned that breaking the seal would have legal consequences under the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Earlier this month, the authority also conducted search operations at the premises of Hero Electric, Benling India and Okinawa Autotech and found that they availed subsidies worth INR 297 Cr under the FAME-II scheme.

In 2023, the central government asked seven two-wheeler EV makers to return subsidies worth INR 469 Cr for flouting localisation norms under FAME II scheme.

As per the guidelines of the scheme, incentives were allowed only to the manufacturers using made in India components for production of EV. However, the investigation revealed that these seven players used imported components.

In September, the union cabinet introduced the PM E-DRIVE scheme, which will effectively replace the FAME scheme. This scheme will have an outlay of INR 10,900 Cr for a period of two years, which is higher than the INR 10,000 Cr initial outlay of the FAME- II scheme.  

The post Delhi HC Asks SFIO To Continue Probe Against Hero Electric appeared first on Inc42 Media.

Bolstering its electric vehicle (EV) play, Bajaj Auto has launched two new electric variants of its iconic Chetak scooter.

The automaker said that the new 35-Series of the Chetak will be priced between INR 1.2 Lakh and INR 1.27 Lakh and will feature a lighter design and improved battery capacity of 3.5 kWh. 

Bajaj Auto will begin exporting Chetak 35-Series to international markets by the first quarter of the next financial year (FY25). The exports will target a dozen markets, and the company plans to launch both premium and affordable versions to cater to diverse customer needs.

“We are definitely looking at exports of the Chetak 35-Series, and are looking at a dozen markets. Exports can begin within the next 6 months or so,” Rakesh Sharma, executive director of Bajaj Auto, told reporters at the launch event. 

Notably, the company also plans to scale up the production of the new series to 60,000 units per month in the next three months to meet growing demand. Further, the company said that it plans to launch more premium models of the escooter as well as affordable versions in the near future. 

A Business Standard report added that the company might launch a specific model for delivery purposes but it won’t be specifically positioned at gig workers. 

This comes at a time when the competition in the two-wheeler EV market in India is heating up. Most recently, Ola electric launched gig workers-focused escooters, S1 Z and Gig. Starting at INR 39,999, the models under Ola Gig directly compete with offerings from players like Yulu. 

Meanwhile, after the festive season rush in October, most electric two-wheeler manufacturers experienced a decline in monthly vehicle registrations in November. 

According to Vahan data, total registrations dropped over 18% month-on-month (MoM) to 1.14 Lakh units in November. However, on a year-on-year basis, registrations increased by 23.5%.

The post Bajaj Auto Debuts Two New Electric Variants Of Chetak Scooter appeared first on Inc42 Media.

Hearing the Competition Commission of India’s (CCI) plea to transfer all pleas filed by Amazon and Flipkart sellers against it to one court, the Supreme Court on Monday (December 16) observed that prima facie all the cases should be handled by the Karnataka High Court.

The bench of justices AS Oka and Manmohan was hearing the competition watchdog’s plea to transfer 24 writ petitions to either a single High Court or the top court to expedite the process, according to a report by Bar and Bench. Currently, these petitions have been filed in high courts of Delhi, Punjab & Haryana, Karnataka, Allahabad, among others.  

“Parties which are represented today take notice. We permit petitioners to add parties. Amended cause title shall be filed in two days. Notices are made returnable on January 6. In the meanwhile, the writ petitions which are heard by Karnataka HC shall not proceed. Prima facie we are of the view that all cases pending across should be transferred to Karnataka High Court,” the court’s order dated December 16 read according to the publication.

Attorney general R Venkataramani and additional solicitor general N Venkataraman, who represented the CCI, said that they don’t have an objection to the transfer of the cases to the Karnataka HC.

In their response, Amazon’s counsel said that some parties have not been added as respondents to the case. The court, thus, refrained from giving an official order on the issue till all the parties have been heard out. The SC will rehear the matter on January 6.  

Earlier this year, the CCI found Amazon and Flipkart in violation of the competition laws by giving preference to only some sellers on their platforms. 

In its report on Amazon, the CCI said that preference is being given to specific sellers on the ecommerce platform which ultimately results in grabbing customer’s “attention” towards their products more effectively. With regards to Flipkart, it said that preferred sellers were provided various services such as marketing and delivery at a “miniscule cost”. 

Earlier last week, proxy advisory services provider InGovern said that the CCI’s move seeking consolidation of pleas will negate all the time and work done at the various courts. especially the Karnataka High Court, where the hearing is at advanced stages.

“By bypassing state high courts, the CCI risks making them appear redundant and undermining stakeholder confidence in legal processes. Investors appreciate the robust provisions of the Competition Act and this single act of CCI could become a deterrent for investors to invest in India,” Shriram Subramanian, founder of InGovern Research Services, said.

The post Amazon, Flipkart Vs CCI: SC In Favour Of Transferring Pleas To K’taka HC appeared first on Inc42 Media.

In a fresh twist to the ongoing antitrust probe into Amazon and Flipkart, electronics major Samsung has reportedly accused the Competition Commission of India (CCI) of detaining its employees during a 2022 raid carried out in connection with the investigation.

As per legal filings, dated October 11, accessed by Reuters, Samsung has alleged that the CCI officials detained three of its employees present in the vicinity of the search operation, which was conducted at one of Amazon’s vendors in 2022. 

The South Korean giant has also claimed that the officials seized the phones of its workers and copied confidential and privileged company data.

“The entire search exercise undertaken … is patently illegal and any material collected thereunder should not be relied upon and should be promptly returned,” Samsung’s Indian arm has reportedly said in its filings in the High Court (HC) of Punjab and Haryana. 

The company added that the CCI “should be prohibited from using or relying upon the data and information unlawfully collected”.

In its internal report, the CCI found Samsung guilty of indulging in the practice of exclusive phone launches on Amazon and Flipkart. The fair trade regulator said that “exclusivity in business is anathema” and against free and fair competition.

In its petition filed before the HC, Samsung has sought quashing of the findings of the investigation related to conduct of the company. 

Samsung has also argued before the HC that it has been “wrongly” accused of breaching the competition laws in collusion with Amazon and Flipkart, even though it has been cooperating with the CCI and providing information only as a third-party in the case.

As per the report, Samsung has already obtained an injunction from the HC, which has put the CCI proceedings on hold. However, the court is yet to rule on Samsung’s requests to return the data seized and to not allow the commission to rely on it.

It is pertinent to note that the watchdog has challenged the petition filed by Samsung and 22 other parties, which have won similar injunctions from HCs across India. Earlier last week, the CCI approached the Supreme Court (SC) to club all the petitions, alleging that the companies were trying to scuttle the probe into Amazon and Flipkart.

At the heart of the matter is a CCI probe finding both Walmart-owned Flipkart and Amazon guilty of flouting antitrust laws by favouring select sellers on their platforms. While Amazon and Flipkart have denied any wrongdoing, trade bodies have time and again trained guns at the two marketplaces for using deep discounting tactics to woo customers. 

The post Flipkart, Amazon Vs CCI: Samsung Accuses Watchdog Of Seizing Data Unlawfully appeared first on Inc42 Media.

With an eye on foraying into the Indian market, Elon Musk-led electric carmaker Tesla has reportedly resumed its search for a showroom space in Delhi NCR.

Citing sources, Reuters reported that Tesla is in early talks with real estate major DLF to scout places to host its showroom in India, including DLF’s Avenue Mall in Delhi and Gurugram’s Cyber Hub complex. 

As per the report, Tesla is eyeing a 3,000 to 5,000 sq ft space to set up a consumer experience centre as well as a space three times larger for its delivery and service operations. However, the Musk-led company is planning to secure an 8,000 sq ft showroom space in the Avenue Mall. 

The EV maker is also in discussions with other property developers to finalise the deal. However, Tesla’s search is still “exploratory” and nothing has been finalised yet. 

The development comes nearly eight months after Musk, in April, called off his visit to India. He was expected to meet Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and announce an investment of $2 Bn to $3 Bn in the country to set up a manufacturing plant. 

The aftermath saw the company putting its India plans on hold and lay off more than 10% of its global workforce as part of a restructuring exercise. 

Tesla’s India foray has been fraught with challenges as Musk previously was lobbying the Indian government to reduce import duties, which are as high as 100%. However, the Indian government remained adamant and directed the company to set up a unit in the country to avail subsidies. 

Subsequently in March 2024, the Centre updated its EV policy, which lowered the import duty on EVs for companies setting up a manufacturing plant in India with a minimum investment of INR 4,150 Cr or roughly $500 Mn. 

At the heart of all this is the growing India EV market. However, the penetration of EVs in the four-wheeler segment continues to remain abysmal, which presents a big opportunity for companies like Tesla. 

The development also comes at a time when Musk-led Starlink is seeking satcom licence in India. Recently, the company also came under police scrutiny in the country after its satcom devices was used by drug peddlers to smuggle contraband worth $4.25 Bn into India via sea.

The post Tesla Resumes Search For Showroom Space In Delhi NCR appeared first on Inc42 Media.

Even as ecommerce giant Amazon India gears up to enter the quick commerce segment, its country manager Samir Kumar is bullish on the company’s traditional ecommerce play. Speaking on the sidelines of Amazon’s ‘Smbhav Summit’, Kumar said that the company has barely scratched the surface when it comes to ecommerce expansion in India. 

While Amazon is seeing increasing demand from non-metro cities, Kumar believes that it needs to improve delivery time in these cities.

“I am really excited about the growth we are seeing in “Bharat”. To further penetrate this market, we need to improve our speed on deliveries. I am not happy with the progress we have made in the last few years on this front. While we have improved delivery timelines in big cities, we are still in the process of trimming our delivery timelines in non-metro cities,” Kumar said. 

Despite this, he claimed that the company gets 65% of its business during peak periods from non-metro regions. 

This is in line with the high demand witnessed by the ecommerce company from Tier II and beyond cities during its flagship ‘Great Indian Festival’ sales every year. As per reports, Amazon India’s gross merchandise value during the 2024 festive season sale crossed the INR 1 Lakh Cr mark ($12 Bn) in 2024 as against INR 81,000 Cr in 2023

Last month, Amazon India’s shopping experience director Kishore Thota told Inc42 that 85% of the customers who shopped online during the sale and nearly 70% of Prime members hailed from Tier II & III cities. 

Ecommerce Unimpacted By Quick Commerce

Kumar also delved into the company’s plans on the quick commerce front. Amazon plans to pilot a 15-minute offering this month and would look to capatilise on its large inventory size.

Kumar claimed that Amazon’s inventory for the festive season stood at 3 Mn SKUs. However, the quick commerce offering will be focussed on providing users with daily essentials like groceries. 

In terms of premium or electronics product offerings on the quick commerce platform, Kumar said that products like electronics or phones are high-consideration items that customers don’t purchase frequently. 

“Convenience is what we have built Amazon on. Quick commerce is a play on convenience. We are going to have our everyday selection of essentials like groceries. These deliveries will be made possible within this month and we will be delivering in 15 minutes,” he said. 

Despite the increasing popularity of quick commerce, the Amazon India head opined that the ecommerce market has not been impacted by it. He believes that the key for a ecommerce business to thrive is its ability to make available a bigger range of products than what offline retail stores offer. 

Amazon Targets $30 Bn Of Exports 

Kumar, who previously held the helm of Amazon’s export initiatives, said that the company has set an ambitious target of facilitating over $80 Bn in cumulative ecommerce exports from India by 2030.

“This significant milestone will be driven by a combination of enabling exports through Amazon’s Global Selling program for Indian MSMEs, manufacturers and D2C startups as well as sourcing Made-in-India products to be sold on Amazon’s global marketplaces,” Kumar wrote in an Amazon blog post. 

Earlier, the company had set a target of $20 Bn ecommerce exports by 2025.

Kumar said that Amazon has enabled cumulative exports of nearly $13 Bn and created nearly 1.4 Mn direct and indirect jobs in India till date. 

Addressing Workers’ Issues 

Despite this, Amazon has been caught up in many regulatory issues in India. Besides, it has also been marred by protests from workers from time to time. Last month, about 200 Amazon India workers protested in New Delhi under the “Make Amazon Pay” campaign. The protesting workers were up in arms about the company’s pay structure, claiming that their basic salary is INR 10,000 as against the minimum requirement of INR 25,000. 

Responding to a question on the workers’ strike, Kumar said that the company adheres to the highest standards. “We employ over 1,60,000 people in India, and during peak times, this number increases significantly. With such a large workforce, there will always be challenges,” he said.

He highlighted the “inclusive” working culture of Amazon India and said that its fulfillment centres have over 30% women employees. Besides, people with disabilities and LGBTQ+ employees are also a part of its workforce, he claimed. 

It is pertinent to note that Amazon made several significant announcements during the ‘Smbhav Summit’. It said that it will invest $120 Mn (around INR 1,018 Cr) through its venture fund to support startups in manufacturing and AI sectors in the country. 

The investment will be made through the Amazon Smbhav Venture Fund as part of a MoU signed between the ecommerce major and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).

Apart from this, the company said that it now offers its logistics expertise to businesses across India with Amazon Shipping and Amazon Freight. Piloted earlier this year, Amazon Freight offers streamlined full truckload freight services for intra-city and inter-city transportation to SME and D2C brands across India. 

The company also claimed to have surpassed its target of digitising 10 Mn MSMEs by 2025 a year ahead of schedule.

The post Need To Shorten Delivery Time In Non-Metro Cities: Amazon India Head appeared first on Inc42 Media.

Ecommerce giant Amazon is set to pilot its quick commerce delivery service in India by the end of December.

As part of the service, the company will deliver grocery and daily essentials to customers within 15 minutes, Amazon India country manager Samir Kumar said. 

However, he did not disclose the name of the cities where the service will be piloted or the number of dark stores Amazon plans to open.

“… we’re already serving a large segment of customers, especially with our thriving grocery business. One in five items shipped out from Amazon is a grocery item, and one in six is a fresh product… Our focus is now on getting the 15-minute delivery right,” Kumar added.

 When asked if the quick commerce service will be integrated with the company’s grocery delivery service Amazon Fresh, Kumar said it will be a fresh product and likely a derivative of Fresh.

“I think Amazon Fresh is doing quite well. We have seen tremendous growth in Fresh and also scaled up in terms of retail stores and regions,” Kumar said.

This would mark Amazon’s foray into the rapidly-growing quick commerce segment in the country. With the rising popularity of quick deliveries, the Indian ecommerce sector is getting increasingly competitive as companies rush to reduce delivery time to the same day or even a few minutes and hours. 

Over the past few months, the likes of Myntra, Nykaa, Flipkart, among others, have jumped on the quick commerce bandwagon.

While Myntra rolled out a pilot of its quick commerce service M-Now in select Bengaluru pincodes in November, Nykaa piloted a 10-minute delivery service in Mumbai in October.

Zomato’s B2B supply arm Hyperpure also launched a 4-hour delivery service last month. In the same month, PhonePe’s Pincode became the latest entrant in the quick commerce segment.

A number of D2C brands such as Pilgrim and Rare Rabbit are also trying out their own quick commerce models amid a surge in the top lines of the players in the segment, dominated by the likes of Zomato’s Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Zepto.

Blinkit more than doubled its revenue year-on-year (YoY) to INR 1,156 Cr in the September quarter of the financial year 2024-25 (Q2 FY25). Foodtech major Swiggy’s quick commerce business saw its operating revenue surge 135.7% YoY to INR 490 Cr in Q2 FY25.

The latest development also comes at a time when Amazon is constantly expanding its presence and footprint in the country. Earlier today, Amazon India said it would invest $120 Mn under its Smbhav Venture Fund in startups that digitise consumer goods manufacturing.

The post Amazon India To Launch 15-Minute Quick Commerce Service In December appeared first on Inc42 Media.

Listed SaaS platform Unicommerce’s company secretary and key managerial personnel (KMP) Ajinkya Jain has quit the company citing “personal reasons and commitments”.

In a filing with the BSE, the SaaS company said that Jain stepped down from his role effective immediately from closing of business hours on December 6. Unicommerce said it is in the “process of filling” the vacancy and will inform the bourses when a new appointment is made. 

The Securities and Exchange Board of India’s (SEBI) rules mandate listed companies to inform about the resignation of KMPs to the stock exchanges within seven days of the resignation taking effect. 

An alumnus of Nagpur University, Jain is a certified company secretary from the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI). He has over 13 years of experience under his belt, and previously worked with companies such as PharmEasy, Games24x7, Future Generali India Insurance Company, and Pantomath Capital Advisors. 

Jain joined Snapdeal and Unicommerce parent AceVector Group in 2022. 

Founded in 2012 by Karun Singla, Ankit Pruthi and Vibhu Garg, and later joined by Manish Gupta, Unicommerce is an ecommerce SaaS company that helps sellers manage their inventory across all online marketplaces. It offers integrations with all major Indian ecommerce platforms.

The company was acquired by Snapdeal in 2015 for an undisclosed amount. Unicommerce filed its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with markets watchdog SEBI in January this year for INR 276 Cr IPO and received regulatory approval in July. 

Subsequently, Unicommerce made a stellar debut on the bourses on August 13 as the shares of the enterprise tech startup listed at INR 235 apiece on the NSE, a premium of 117.59% over its issue price of INR 108. The shares debuted at INR 230, a premium of 112.96% to the issue price, on the BSE.

Unicommerce’s net profit rose 21% to INR 4.47 Cr in the second quarter (Q2) of the financial year 2024-25 (FY25) from INR 3.69 Cr in the previous fiscal year. Operating revenue jumped 13% to INR 29.30 Cr during the quarter under review from INR 25.93 Cr in Q2 FY24.

Shares of Unicommerce ended the final trading session of the week 1.04% higher at INR 194.15 on the BSE.

The post Unicommerce’s Company Secretary & KMP Ajinkya Jain Quits appeared first on Inc42 Media.

Shares of Unicommerce soared 5.07% to INR 196.70 during the intraday trading session on the BSE today (December 5) after the company announced its partnership with Danish sportswear brand Hummel. 

However, the stock shed some gains to trade at INR 191.80, up 2.40%  from its previous close of INR 187.20.

The stock opened marginally above its previous close at INR 188.45. 

At 1:10 PM, Unicommerce was trading at 18.1 Lakh shares on the BSE and its market capitalisation stood at INR 1,971.34 Cr ($232.69 Mn). 

With this partnership, Hummel will use Unicommerce’s multichannel order management and warehouse management systems to automate order processing across its brand website and marketplaces. 

Unicommerce’s profit after tax (PAT) grew 21% year-on-year (YoY) to INR 4.47 Cr in the second quarter of the ongoing financial year 2024-25 (Q2 FY25) from INR 3.69 Cr in the year-ago quarter.

On a quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) basis, profit rose 27% from INR 3.51 Cr.

Revenue from contract with customers increased almost 13% to INR 29.30 Cr during the quarter under review from INR 25.93 Cr in Q2 FY24. On a sequential basis, it increased 6.7% from INR 27.46 Cr. 

According to Unicommerce’s analysis, the sportswear and fitness products category saw over 65% order volume growth during Black Friday sale 2024 compared to last year.

The SaaS company currently serves about 8,800 warehouses and 3,150 omnichannel enabled stores for 3,600 clients across industries. It processes over 930 million transactions annually.

“The Indian ecommerce market is changing with newer categories making a strong impact, one of which is the sportswear segment,” Unicommerce MD and CEO Kapil Makhija said.

Prior to this partnership announcement, Unicommerce acquired a 42.76% stake in ecommerce shipping solutions provider Shipway for INR 68.4 Cr in November 2024, with plans to acquire the remaining stake within a year.

Shares of Unicommerce have traded between INR 171.35 and INR 264.00 over the past 52 weeks on the BSE.

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Amazon India has reportedly bought a 38.18-acre land parcel in Palava near Mumbai from Lodha Group, listed as Macrotech Developers, for more than INR 450 Cr to build a hyperscale date centre.

As per ET, Amazon Data Services India, a subsidiary of Amazon India, will get access to the already-sanctioned floor space index, which has a permissible development potential of nearly 4.16 Mn sq ft.

Inc42 has reached out to Amazon India for comments on the development. The story will be updated based on the response.

The report further said that Amazon Data Services India paid more than INR 396 Cr out of the total agreed amount to Macrotech Developers at the time of the execution and registration of the sale agreement. The balance of over INR 54 Cr will be paid within a time frame on completion of a few conditions.

The company has also paid a stamp duty of INR 27 Cr for the registration of the deal, which took place on November 12, according to data analytics firm Propstack, cited in the report. 

The development comes at a time when Amazon is looking to expand its data centres across the globe.

Over a year ago, Amazon’s cloud unit Amazon Web Services (AWS) disclosed its plans to invest $12.7 Bn into data centre infrastructure in India by 2030, to upgrade and scale up cloud infrastructure in the country to meet the growing demand.

On that note, AWS was in discussions to infuse $2 Bn into Telangana to expand its data centre capabilities in the state, in September.

So far, AWS has opened two data centre infrastructures, with one in Mumbai region and the other in Hyderabad region.

Meanwhile, reports revealed that the company has invested large sums to expand its data centres in countries such as Italy, UK, Saudi Arabia, and more.

To understand, the increasing interest in data centres is the fast expansion of India’s digital economy, where a majority population possessing access to digital learning platforms, social media, ecommerce, digital transactions, online gaming, and streaming services, is boosting the demand for reliable data storage and processing capabilities.

Data centres have been one of core areas of investments for global tech players, with Google and Microsoft being equally interested in acquiring land in India.

Furthermore, India’s data centre industry is predicted for a steady growth, with an expected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.84%, projecting the market size to reach an estimated $9.27 Bn by 2027.

The post Amazon India Buys Land From Lodha Group Worth INR 450 Cr To Build Data Centre appeared first on Inc42 Media.

The Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) has reportedly sealed Hero Electric’s Gurugram premises over alleged violations of the FAME-II subsidy rules. 

According to a NDTV Profit report, a letter from SFIO’s Director of Investigation, Sumit Kasana, dated November 14, instructed that the seal on the premises remain intact. It warned that breaking the seal would have legal consequences under the Code of Criminal Procedure.

“Please note that if the seal is not intact at the time of opening the constructed building, all the consequences as laid down in the Code of Criminal Procedure would follow,” the notice read. 

Meanwhile, a Zee Business report said that the SFIO, which comes under the corporate affairs ministry, is investigating Hero Electric as well as Okinawa to ascertain if the companies misused subsidies meant to encourage EV adoption through the FAME-II scheme.

Inc42 has reached out to Hero Electric and Okinawa for further comments. The story will be updated based on the comments.

Earlier this year in October, Hero Electric reportedly knocked on the doors of the heavy industry ministry to settle the ongoing disputes involving misappropriation of FAME-II subsidies.

At the heart of all this is the second phase of the Centre’s FAME scheme, which subsidises the sale of EVs. A subsequent probe found that as many as five players including Hero Electric in violation of mandatory localisation norms.

Thereafter, authorities launched a clampdown on these original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and ordered them to refund subsidies availed under the scheme. Hero Electric was ordered to return sops worth INR 133 Cr and an additional interest over alleged violations.

While many EV makers returned the subsidies, Hero Electric contested the government’s claims and sought the release of INR 556 Cr as pending subsidies against sales already made. 

Meanwhile, Hero Electric’s sales have been negligible in the recent month. In October, the company sold 143 Escooters, 10% down from the sale of 160 Escooters the previous month.  

The post Hero Electric Premises Sealed Over FAME-II Violations appeared first on Inc42 Media.

When Apple began assembling iPhones in India, it changed the game. It was the first major tech company to move out of the China smartphone manufacturing hubs and turned its focus to India, but it didn’t stop there. 

Apple has consistently increased the contribution of ‘India-made’ phones in its global supply of units, and of late, it’s looking at India even for NPI (or New Product Introduction), which has been a stronghold of large contract manufacturers in China thus far. 

However, with Apple’s entry and the Indian government’s PLI scheme in place, India’s place in the smartphone manufacturing market is fast changing, moving towards contract manufacturing. 

Since Apple’s entry into the Indian market and having helped create over 100K jobs (150K by some accounts) through contract manufacturing, Motorola and Xiaomi too have entered into agreements with Indian company Dixon Technologies for their smartphones’ assembly in India. This is just the beginning. Smartphone contract manufacturing is said to create another 250K jobs in India in the next 12 months.

The Apple Effect

India’s electronics manufacturing sector has become the world’s second-largest mobile phone producer, achieving its decade-old target, says ICEA. 

The country manufactured 2.45 Bn phones worth INR 4.1 Lakh Cr in FY23, up from INR 18,900 Cr in 2014-15. The sector has moved from 78% import dependency in 2014 to 97% self-sufficiency, with only 3% of phones being imported.

The Indian government has allocated over INR 4,400 Cr to major smartphone manufacturers, including Apple, Samsung, and others, under this scheme. 

The total financial outlay for the PLI scheme was revised in 2023 to INR 38,601 Cr over five years, down from an initial INR 40,951 Cr. The PLI scheme has generated an estimated revenue of INR 1.10 Lakh Cr, yielding a return of nearly 19 times the initial investment made by the government.

Apple is setting the stage to capitalise on the next big inflection point in contract manufacturing, after setting the pace on the smartphone assembly front. The big focus for the tech giant is increasing the value addition from domestic components for every iPhone. 

Apple iPhone production achieved a $10 Bn FOB (Freight On Board or value of goods at the time of shipping) value between April and October 2024, up 37% from $7.3 Bn in the same period last year. With an estimated market value of $15 Bn, 70% of these units were exported, while the rest catered to the demand in the India market. 

Registering a growth of 23% in FY24, Apple India is expected to surpass Samsung India’s revenue in the next couple of years. While Samsung India has been growing at around 3% y-o-y, Apple India has registered a growth of 23% and is expected to continue this momentum for the next few years, believe experts Inc42 spoke to.

“One of the biggest factors supporting Apple’s dramatic growth in India is its strong ecosystem. The company has the strongest cross-sales among all the other manufacturers. However, with Android becoming fully compatible with Windows OS, the gaps between Apple and other makers are narrowing,” opines Mohammad Faisal Ali Kawoosa, chief analyst at Techarc.

Besides Apple, Google has inked a pact with the Tamil Nadu government to explore manufacturing of its ‘Made in India’ Pixel 8 smartphones and future models, skill development and build an industrial ecosystem, enabling MSMEs to create scalable AI solutions.

Questions sent to Apple with regards to its India manufacturing business and the roadmap ahead did not elicit a response. 

Apple’s India Manufacturing Playbook

The Cupertino-headquartered giant also hit another milestone in October 2024, surpassing $2 Bn in production in its India lines within a single month for the first time. However, this is on the back of assembling iPhones in India — what about a fully made-in-India iPhone? 

That remains a pipe dream at the moment, but to its credit, Apple is looking to increase the share of locally-made components in its India manufacturing stack in the near future. What’s the situation right now? 

The first signs of Apple scaling up iPhone production in India appeared in 2021, because that’s when the government’s production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for smartphone makers kicked in. To support this initiative, three of Apple’s Taiwanese manufacturing partners—Foxconn, Pegatron, and Wistron (acquired by Tata Electronics)—established large-scale manufacturing facilities in the country.

Currently, Apple assembles and manufactures iPhones in India, along with some accessories for the smartphone. However, almost all other products, including the famed MacBook and Mac lineup of computers, iPads, Apple TV boxes, Apple Watches, and other devices are imported into India from either China or Vietnam.

Apple India currently does not have plans to assemble Macbook, and other products but iPhones only. The company is instead focussing on expanding the iPhone manufacturing stack, by sourcing the iPhone components locally including all the accessories, that’s the plan.

Who Are Apple’s Suppliers?

According to Apple’s suppliers list, out of 188 suppliers globally, it has 14 direct suppliers in India. Barring Tata Electronics which has one iPhone assembly plant in Hosur, Tamil Nadu and has acquired another Wistron Corporation’s plant in Karnataka. Tata Electronics also has a 60% stake in Pegatron’s assembly line in Tamil Nadu.

Currently, an estimated 14% of iPhones are manufactured in India, making India the largest producer of smartphones for Apple outside China. Apple plans to increase this share to 25% between 2027 and 2028. 

However, given that there could be a shortage of components from any particular vendor and mishaps like Tata Electronics Hosur Plant which caught fire in September this year causing significant disruption in its operations, Apple India is eyeing for more vendors.

There’s one more reason, said a consultant without wanting to be named. 

Apple has relied on most Chinese contract manufacturers for some of the critical components. However, these contract manufacturers are finding it very difficult to set up plants in India, the consultant added. 

There are geopolitical forces at play with some of these manufacturers. Some of these players were even denied approval by the Indian government. Even as the China +1 sentiment prevails among electronics OEMs, moving operations wholesale to India or Vietnam is simply not feasible at this time, according to the analyst who closely monitors this space. 

It’s worth noting that by 2024, Apple has already met most of the PLI targets, but it is looking to go beyond this and establish India as a key market for its complete manufacturing stack, at least for the iPhone. 

High-end and current Apple models such as the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are manufactured in India today. But most critical components such as chipsets, camera sensors, displays and other internals are still being sourced from China, US or South Korea. 

Given this situation, and the fact that it has to continue meeting production targets to be eligible for PLI, Apple is left with no choice but to partner with Indian manufacturers and grow this ecosystem in the long run, by courting other partners. 

For instance, Apple has also set targets in terms of exports, investment, the freight on board (FoB) value and most importantly domestic value addition i.e. increasing the proportion of India-made components in an iPhone. 

Can Indian Manufacturers Step Up? 

Apple is reportedly in talks with 40 Indian companies to expand the components and tech support base in India. “However, with ESG as one of the critical parameters, while selecting a supplier partner, not many of them would be immediately shortlisted. In some cases, Apple would allow them time to become ESG compliant that are ready to meet Apple’s green target,” said a senior employee of Apple India. 

It’s worth noting that Apple maintains 100% clean energy at its data centres and aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. This immediate burden comes to the direct suppliers.

Apple works with partners across India that are advancing critical work to protect the environment. Its recent joint venture with CleanMax provides additional clean energy capacity and a local solution to power Apple’s offices, its two retail stores, and corporate operations in India, as part of Apple’s commitment to be 100% carbon neutral for its supply chain and products by 2030.

Among the current talks, Apple is reportedly in advanced discussions with Murugappa Group and Titan to source iPhone’s camera modules.

The company is also in talks with Dixon Technology to extend the iPhone assembly line further. Dixon technology has engaged in producing Xiaomi, Motorola, Google Pixel and OnePlus phones in India. 

Besides Dixon, Apple has also reportedly also roped in other major tech companies like Amber Electronics, HCLTech, Wipro, and Motherson Group. However, these partnerships are only expected to deliver locally-made components after a few years. 

One of the Apple employees quoted earlier told Inc42 that currently, the company does not want to independently outsource critical components like camera sensors, display, and memory chips from Indian manufacturers. Instead, it is asking its global manufacturing partners to do this in India. This situation will likely to remain so for at least the next couple of years, until domestic players can meet Apple’s standards.  

The question is whether India’s manufacturing ecosystem can mature as rapidly as Apple and other electronic giants need them to. 

Dreaming Of A 100% Made-In-India iPhone

It’s not just Apple of course. Several other brands manufacturing in India, still have to import critical components that make up a modern-day smartphone. This begs the question of when we might see a completely made-in-India Apple iPhone. 

Without a component manufacturing ecosystem that can compete with Chinese contract manufacturers, the Indian smartphone manufacturing dream does fall a bit flat. However, to its credit, the government has looked to sharpen the PLI schemes over the years, and has promised investments in areas to become a true replacement for China. 

For instance, at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “We now aim to provide the world with a fully Made-in-India phone, from the chip to the finished product. We are making significant investments to create a semiconductor ecosystem.”

Established in 2022, the India Semiconductor Mission has already seen government investments to the tune of $11 Bn and is likely to receive a second budgetary allocation of another $10 Bn according to reports.

India’s population and large workforce are seen as analogues to China, and the government is bringing in the funds to back manufacturing of high-end tech products, even beyond smartphones. 

A key part of this is India’s ambition of becoming a semiconductor powerhouse. These are very early days. Displacing Taiwan, China and South Korea will not exactly be easy as these countries have established infrastructure for semiconductors and geopolitical situations can easily change in their favour in the mid to long term. 

Developing the talent base and expertise needed to build semiconductor products independently will be a challenge for India, as in this situation, economic interests of the incumbents might outweigh their propensity to share knowledge. 

In this regard, the US is a major ally for India, and with the upcoming Donald Trump administration looking unfavourably at China-origin supply chains, geopolitical chips are likely to fall in favour of a 100% made-in-India Apple iPhone sooner rather than later. 

Edited By Nikhil Subramaniam

The post Behind Apple’s ‘Make In India’ Push For iPhone appeared first on Inc42 Media.

The Delhi High Court (HC) has deferred the next hearing in the ongoing trademark dispute case between Elon Musk-led EV major Tesla Inc and Delhi NCR-based battery company Tesla Power till April 2025.

The court deferred the hearing as the two parties are still looking to settle the issue through mediation at the Delhi Mediation and Conciliation Centre, Livemint reported.

The HC had asked the two parties to take the mediation route during a hearing on June 4, after they agreed to try to solve the dispute.

In May this year, the Musk-led EV maker alleged Tesla Power was using “impugned marks” which encompassed its trademark ‘TESLA’ in its entirety, in addition to the descriptive phrase ‘POWER USA’.

The case was first heard by the Delhi HC on May 2. Later in the month, the court banned Tesla Power from publishing advertisements featuring its EV products. It also directed Tesla Power to furnish a reply in connection with the allegations. 

In a subsequent hearing, the EV maker said that Tesla Power continued to sell EV scooters under the disputed logo, despite agreeing to refrain from doing the same. 

Meanwhile, Tesla Power said that the advertisements featuring the logo and the name were a part of its marketing alliance with e-Ashwa, and that it had no plans to produce or market EVs under its own brand.

Incorporated in 2022, Tesla Power India is based out of Gurugram but has its global headquarters in Delaware, US. It claims to be a leader in introducing affordable batteries with long life. 

The EV major sent the battery maker a cease-and-desist notice in April 2022 to stop infringing on its trademark. In its petition, the EV giant cited a screenshot of the article published in an Indian daily that read, “Tesla announces bringing EV Scooters, charging stations to shops by 2025”. 

The company also argued that the Tesla Power’s trademark was creating confusion among consumers and potentially harming its business interests in the country. 

The post Tesla Vs Tesla: Delhi HC To Hear Trademark Dispute Case In April 2025 appeared first on Inc42 Media.

Auto giant Hero MotoCorp has launched an accelerator programme to support startups in the automotive space.

The 12-month programme, Hero For Startups, aims to identify and fund promising startups across India which have the potential to transform the future of the automotive industry, the company said in a filing.

Under the initiative, selected startups will get access to Hero MotoCorp’s research and development facilities in Germany and India, besides the company’s network of dealers, suppliers and partners, along with mentorship.

It further said that the shortlisted startups will also get the opportunity to work on paid Proofs of Concept (PoCs) to integrate their solutions into Hero MotoCorp’s product portfolio.

“Hero For Startups is our commitment to shaping the future of mobility and beyond through innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration. Inviting dreamers, doers, and visionaries, this initiative is a catalyst for extraordinary ideas to tackle real-world challenges for Bharat while opening doors to unprecedented opportunities,” said Hero MotoCorp’s executive chairman Pawan Munjal.

The programme includes three objectives, fostering cutting-edge technological innovations, collaborating with emerging startups to invigorate the automotive industry and promoting sustainable, long-term solutions.

According to the company, a startup has to have a working prototype or a minimum viable product (MVP), along with a dedicated team with at least two cofounders or core team members, to be a part of the accelerator. 

Besides, it must be a registered business entity in its country of operation.

This comes at a time when several companies are launching accelerator programmes in India as part of their efforts to strengthen various sectors.

For instance, in May, Delhi NCR-based deeptech enablement platform SanchiConnect teamed up with early stage VC fund YourNest Venture Capital for the Velocity Fast Track Startup Funding Program, an accelerator for deeptech startups in India.

Meanwhile, startup incubator IIMA Ventures has launched an accelerator programme for first time investors via which it will offer professionals with skills, knowledge and experience needed to succeed as early stage investors.

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