Foxconn to open 5 iPad plants in Brazil

There is a new rumor floating around about Foxconn today, and for a change it is some good news. Allegedly, they plan to open five more factories, each employing 1000 workers, in Brazil. This not only means jobs, but it also means that iPad production is ramping up.

Officials from Foxconn and the Brazilian government will reportedly meet following the Chinese New Year to decide on where the factories will be built, but São Paulo is said to be pushing heavily for the investment. [...] In addition to helping supply Apple with iPads, the factories will be tooled for notebook and general electronics production. [...] A Foxconn representative declined to confirm its Brazilian expansion plans to Economia, calling the report “pure speculation.”

This news comes on the heels of a generous tax break in Brazil from local government following Foxconn reportedly investing up to $300 million in a São Paulo factory. With Apple selling over 15 million iPads in Q1 2012 alone, it only makes sense to increase production. They may also be anticipating the new iPad 3 that is expected to be unveiled in the near future. Hopefully conditions here are better than what we have been hearing in Chinese factories, but we will just have to wait and see.

Do you think these new plants are to supplement the current iPad 2 production, or are they in anticipation of the next generation tablet? Let me know in the comments. Also, be sure to follow me on twitter: @TiP_Bryce.

Via: Apple Insider