India is extending its push for electronics self-reliance beyond finished goods, approving a US$2.68 billion scheme targeting component manufacturing. This initiative aims to close a significant import gap, offering tailored incentives to boost domestic production and integrate India into the global electronics supply chain, addressing a critical need alongside existing Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) efforts

Dixon Technologies is rapidly solidifying its position in India's electronics manufacturing services (EMS) sector. Recent joint ventures with Signify and Vivo, alongside acquisitions like Ismartu, demonstrate Dixon's aggressive expansion strategy. These moves, coupled with its focus on "Make in India," are driving its growth across diverse electronics manufacturing

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer BYD is considering establishing an electric car manufacturing unit near Hyderabad, which would make Telangana the first Indian state to host a BYD factory. The company has engaged in extensive discussions with the state government and is assessing three proposed locations before finalizing a site and signing an agreement, reports ETV Bharat, Business Standard, and the Times of India

India sees major tech and industry shifts: Intel's OSAT speculation grows, Asus recovers US$161.9M, Netrasemi preps AI SoCs, Samsung faces US$601M tax demand, smartphone and renewable energy sectors surge, and OpenAI, Meta eye Reliance partnership

These are the most-read DIGITIMES Asia stories from the week of March 17 – March 22

India's smartphone manufacturing rose in 2024, driven by Apple and Samsung exports, with Foxconn, Tata, and Dixon Technologies significantly increasing production

India's renewable energy sector is witnessing an unprecedented surge, with major corporations ramping up investments as demand for clean power grows substantially year-on-year, according to Powercon, which counts major corporations like Tata Power, Adani, and NTPC among its customers

HCL-Foxconn's OSAT venture reportedly seeks EPC partners L&T and CTCI, aiming for quick Cabinet approval, following a Foxconn senior executive's visit to India

OpenAI and Meta Platforms Inc. are each seeking a potential alliance with India's Reliance Industries Ltd., The Information reports

India's growing electronics and AI sectors are attracting major global investments. Telangana state's Taiwan Industrial zone and "Formosa Town" aims to draw Taiwanese firms under the "China+1" strategy, while Foxconn will start AirPods production in April 2025. Meanwhile, NTT plans a US$1.5 billion investment in data centers, highlighting India's rising role in global supply chains

Intel's appointment of Lip-Bu Tan as its new chief executive has raised fresh speculation over the company's potential expansion into India's semiconductor sector, particularly in the outsourced semiconductor assembly and testing (OSAT) segment

Since 2019, the Indian government has implemented the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for 14 industries to attract foreign investment in local manufacturing. Although it has positioned India as a key player in smartphone production, its benefits for other sectors are limited. As a result, India may explore offering subsidies for factory construction instead of linking incentives to production and investment levels

Apple is reportedly advancing talks with Indian companies like Wipro and Lakshmi Machine Works (LMW) to diversify its supply chain as the company is actively expanding manufacturing suppliers in India

Two years after its launch, India's Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for IT hardware 2.0 has struggled to gain traction, as major brands hesitate to increase production and exports due to the absence of a strong local ecosystem for essential components

Japanese telecom giant NTT intends to invest US$1.5 billion in India from 2025 to 2027, aiming to expand its data center capacity by about 2.4 times. This investment will also facilitate the rollout of NTT's Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN) to meet the rising demand for digitalization and AI driven by India's economic growth