Apple CEO Tim Cook: We’ll Bring Manufacturing to U.S.

by | December 6, 2012

Apple CEO Tim Cook suggested Apple will bring more production back to the United States in 2013.




Apple’s total investment in the new U.S. factories will be $100 million. “This doesn’t mean that Apple will do it ourselves,” he added, “but we’ll be working with people, and we’ll be investing our money.” (Apple already performs at least some Mac assembly in the United States.)

Cook also commented on the ongoing competition between Apple and Google Android, comparing the latter to Windows PCs—and not in a flattering way. “The operating system comes from company A,” he said. “Company B is doing some integration work, and maybe the services come from yet somewhere else. I think we know the kind of customer experience that produces.”

Apple, of course, is engaged in fierce legal battle against many of those Android manufacturers. “I hate litigation. I absolutely hate it,” Cook said. “For us, this is about values. What we would like, in a perfect world, is for everyone to invent their own stuff.” That we-want-rivals-to-invent-their-own-stuff argument is one that he’s used many times before.

Despite pressure from Android, analysts believe that Apple will remain a robust competitor in the mobile arena for the next several years. “The popularity of the iPhone across multiple markets will drive steady replacements and additional carrier partners will help Apple grow iOS volume,” read a recent note from research firm IDC. “However, the high price point of the iPhone relative to other smartphones will make it cost prohibitive for some users within many emerging markets.”

Android holds roughly three-quarters of the mobile OS market, in IDC’s estimation, followed by iOS with almost 15 percent. Microsoft’s Windows Phone, Research In Motion’s BlackBerry, and a few other software platforms make up the remaining percentage.

In other words, the state of Apple is strong—but Cook is under no illusions about the challenges facing the company, both from its rivals and the need to maintain its innovative edge.


Image: pcruciatti/Shutterstock.com


It would certainly a new thing, If apple where to invent there own stuff. Kind of funny how you see things when the shoe is on the other foot.


All production should be in the USA, support our manufacturers.


“I hate litigation. I absolutely hate it,” Yes and Hitler was forced to invade Poland too.


Apple doesn't build their ICs or LCDs nor do they build their own cellphones or tablets, so it sounds like they are a hardware integration company, which is no different than software integration, so STFU apphole.The best thing about Windows is numerous vendors build the hardware thus we get to choose EXACTLY what we want, unlike Apple which FORCES their choice upon you.

man_the_king like.author.displayName 1 Like

Quoted: "What we would like, in a perfect world, is for everyone to invent their own stuff."


Big words for a corporation that patents other people's tech as their own by adding "on a mobile device" to it. And patents age-old ideas like generic form factors as their own.

GodInHell like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

So -- how is 2012 like 1984?  Apple is on its way out as a major player in another market, and playing the "but you get a better experience with out hardware to UI development process" card that didn't work in the 80s and isn't going to work now.  Price wins.  Diversity, and its attendant exponential advancement, wins.  Walled gardens of "take it or leave it" services for a significant price jump are just not likely to win out.

QuickBible like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

I wish Apple would give up the "Invent your own stuff" argument.