Danny Weber
15:04 02-09-2025
RusPhotoBank
Apple now requires suppliers to install robotic production lines across iPhone, iPad and Mac, funding less to push automation and 2030 carbon-neutral goals.
Apple is turning up the pressure on its partners: according to DigiTimes, the company now requires suppliers to deploy robotic production lines as a condition for winning contracts. Where automation used to be a recommendation, it has become a hard standard. The move makes sense—Apple wants to cut reliance on human labor, even out product quality across plants, and lower long-term costs.
The mandate spans all core categories: iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. Crucially, suppliers must fund the upgrades themselves; Apple is no longer prepared to fully pay for the equipment. That shift has already hit contractors’ margins: pricey robots and temporary rollout hiccups are eating into profits.
At the same time, the company continues to support partners in environmental initiatives. By 2030, Apple plans to achieve full carbon neutrality across its supply chain, so it subsidizes the switch to energy-efficient equipment and sustainable materials.
Automation, in turn, helps Apple minimize exposure to labor shortages and political risks, while standardizing processes as it diversifies production beyond China. In effect, the company is building a universal factory model, with every component assembled under the same rulebook—whether in Taiwan, Vietnam, or India.