Apple is Still Pressing for Approval to Sell Refurbished iPhones in India

Apple has again requested approval to sell used iPhones in India as part of its negotiations to begin iPhone production in the country, reports Bloomberg.

The company has asked to bring in used iPhones to be refurbished and sold in India, saying it will have the manufacturing infrastructure needed to make them compliant with quality standards, said the person, who asked not to be named as the matter is private. The request is included in a list of concessions submitted by Apple to a panel of government officials that includes a 15-year tax holiday, the person said.


Apple's last request was rejected with concerns that allowing the import and resale of used iPhones would undermine the 'Make in India' program intended to encourage local manufacturing. Since then, Apple has made plans to start assembling iPhones in India by the end of April, according to a statement from information technology minister Priyank Kharge.

“These phones still have life in them,” said Anshul Gupta, Mumbai-based research director at Gartner Inc. He estimates that 70 percent of phones sold in India go for under $200. “In India and other emerging markets, buyers cannot afford the flagship model so opt for older generation iPhones whose prices drop.”

More details in the full report linked below...

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