Apple Rallies Against India’s USB Type C Regulations For iPhone

Apple has requested the Indian government to exempt existing iPhone models from new regulations mandating that all smartphones sold in the country must feature USB Type C charging ports. This request, as reported by Reuters, arises from concerns that compliance with these rules could impact Apple's local production targets.

The regulations, aiming to mirror the European Union's directive for a unified charging standard, pose a challenge for Apple, as its iPhones until the release of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro have relied on the Lightning connector, introduced with the iPhone 5 in 2012.

During a confidential meeting on November 28, chaired by India's IT ministry, Apple's representatives expressed concerns that adherence to these rules for existing models would hinder their ability to meet production targets under India's production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme.

The minutes of the meeting, as seen by Reuters, reveal Apple's position on the matter. In India, the popularity of older iPhone models like the iPhone 12, 13, and 14 is significant, and Apple manufactures these iPhones locally for domestic sales and exports as part of the PLI scheme.

Apple's regulatory and product compliance executives, as quoted in the meeting minutes, argued that implementing this regulation on earlier iPhone models would prevent them from achieving the PLI targets. The European Union's regulation is set to take effect in December 2024, but India is pushing for compliance by June 2025.

Apple has informed Indian officials that it can comply with the regulation, but only if it is exempted for existing models; otherwise, it will require an additional 18 months beyond 2024 to conform. Following this meeting, India's IT ministry has stated that it will review Apple's request, with a final decision expected at a later date.