Taiwanese manufacturer Wistron, which sold its Karnataka iPhone facility to Tata Electronics in 2023, is now planning an electronics production unit in Telangana with a proposed investment of Rs 1,000 crore, according to informed Economic Times sources.The company is currently looking for suitable land in Hyderabad to establish a facility dedicated to manufacturing servers, routers and switches, according to the ET sources who requested anonymity.Following its departure from the Kolar plant, which experienced labour issues in 2020, Wistron is expanding its Indian presence. The company is also establishing a Rs 1,450 crore laptop manufacturing unit in Bengaluru, set to commence operations by January 2026, as confirmed by Karnataka industries minister MB Patil last year.“They (Wistron) have decided to come to Telangana with a different product line. They are investing almost Rs 1,000 crore. Now they are finalising the location,” said one of the people. “It could be in the same area where Hyderabad’s electronics manufacturing is concentrated, in one of the electronics parks on the outskirts of the city. It has not frozen the location yet. They have seen a few locations,” the person, quoted by ET, added.“Wistron is into manufacturing servers, routers and switches. Manufacturing of those may go to Telangana. But it will be the non-iPhone making that will go to the state; iPhone assembly is ruled out,” another person said.Responding to ET, Wistron declined to comment on the Telangana plans but reiterated its 2024 announcement regarding its subsidiary, ICT Service Management Solutions (India), seeking land use rights from Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board for up to Rs 140 crore near Bangalore’s international airport.In March last year, the Karnataka State High Level Clearance Committee approved ICT Service Management’s Rs 1,450 crore investment proposal, potentially creating 2,500 jobs. When signing the memorandum of understanding in January last year, minister Patil mentioned ICT Service Management’s request for 32 acres.The automated facility would manufacture laptops for various brands, with over 50% intended for export, according to Patil. The unit would also produce IoT components and EV-related parts.Wistron operates in India through three subsidiaries: ICT Service Management, Smartiply India and Wistron Automotive Electronics (India). ICT Service Management handles import-export services and maintenance, Smartiply India develops internet platforms and IoT products, whilst Wistron Automotive Electronics focuses on automotive electronics manufacturing and R&D.
