Taiwanese electronics giant Wistron has appointed engineering and construction firm Shapoorji Pallonji to develop its new laptop manufacturing facility in Bengaluru. The facility is part of Wistron’s Rs 15-billion investment plan in India, being executed through its subsidiary, ICT Service Management Solutions (ICT). The construction contract, reportedly valued at around $30 million, marks a significant step in the implementation of the project.

In February 2024, Wistron signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Karnataka government to set up the laptop manufacturing plant. The government subsequently allocated a 32-acre land parcel at the Hi-Tech Defence & Aerospace Park in Devanahalli, on the outskirts of Bengaluru. The project is expected to generate employment for around 3,000 people and aims to export over 50 per cent of the laptops manufactured at the site.

Initially, Wistron had planned a capital investment of Rs 3.50 billion for setting up the plant, which was later revised to Rs 4.50 billion. Construction is expected to commence soon, with production scheduled to begin by January 2026.

The new facility in Bengaluru will operate as a contract manufacturing unit for global laptop brands. Apart from manufacturing, the unit will also offer warranty repair services, inventory management, and logistics support for Wistron's operations in India.

This development follows Wistron's exit from the iPhone manufacturing business in India in October 2023, when it sold its stake in Wistron InfoComm Manufacturing (India) to Tata Electronics for $131 million. Despite the exit, Wistron continues to maintain a strong presence in India through its subsidiaries—ICT, Smartiply India, and Wistron Automotive Electronics—operating in diverse segments including IoT, electronics manufacturing, and automotive components.

News source: Financial Express