The relationship between Apple and its long-time manufacturing partner, Foxconn, is eroding, according to The Information.
The article says that, as Apple has risen to become the world’s most valuable company, Foxconn, has struggled with low margins and has purportedly tried a variety of tactics to boost its profits, including charging Apple for workers it never used and taking shortcuts on component and product testing, ex-Apple and Foxconn managers told The Information.
Foxconn manufactures between 60% and 70% of the iPhones sold annually. As of September, the world’s largest iPhone factory in Zhengzhou was running at full speed in anticipation of strong demand for the new iPhone 12, according to the South China Morning Post.