Tim Cook visits China’s Vision Pro supplier. Has production begun?

There are probably three reasons Apple CEO Tim Cook visits a supplier: to maintain the connection, to check production, or to sign a deal. Perhaps all three of these are behind his surprise visit to Luxshare in China in October.

Dropping round to Lux’ place

Luxshare is the prime assembly partner for VisionPro, the mixed reality device the entire industry has slowed down to wait for. The product will be an important launch for Apple.

While we’re told the company doesn’t expect to sell iPhone size quantities of them at first, it is seeking out life after iPhone, and Vision Pro is a brick in that road.

Thee much-anticipated new Apple product is supposed to ship early in 2024, though the Apple web generates regular reports citing challenges in production of the incredibly advanced, next-generation device. Some of those claims may even be true, while others may not be quite correct. We don’t know. .

Keeping an eye on business

Cook already visited China in March. Now he’s back, visiting various locations in China, including Apple retail stores, local developers, and Luxshare. He was accompanied by Luxshare chairman, Wang Laichun.

Cook also announced a 25 million yuan donation to the China Rural Development Foundation to help support Chinese famers, students, and communities.

“We are committed to supporting education programs across China and providing technical support to farmers and student groups, because education can change the lives of many, create opportunities, empower communities and support the next generation,” he said.

It is also plausible to imagine Cook visited China in an attempt to mitigate recent discounted claims that Chinese government offices have taken against iPhones.

China’s Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao  also met Cook in Beijing during the trip, where sought too reassure Cook that multinational companies like Apple are still welcome, said SCMP, citing the ministry website.

Tim to launch production?

But I can’t help but think it is also possible the trip to Luxshare reflects an important time in the Vision Pro supply chain.

Despite initially only being available in the US, Apple will probably want every single unit of the device Luxshare can make, Cook may well have come across to check on progress on what’s thought to be his pet project, and also potentially to finalize any outstanding deals between the firms.

Perhaps his visit coincides with production beginning? Local reports have previously claimed Luxshare to be ready to begin manufacturing.

If that’s true, this would also be a fitting way to celebrate 30-years of mutual profit shared between Apple and China, where the vast proportion of its products are made.

With this in mind it’s not too challenging to speculate Cook took the chance to see the first few Vision Pros rolling off the production line.

And, if that is indeed the case, it looks like we can speculate the first devices will hit retail by spring, as it will take time to manufacture enough of them to meet the anticipated first wave of demand, even if only available in America.

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