According to President Donald Trump, Tim Cook has “eyes opened” on U.S. assembled iPhones, reports Nikkei. The report states that Apple and Foxconn are “mulling” a joint investment for a $7 billion automated display in the United States.
However, this isn’t the first rumbling of Apple and Foxconn wanting to move manufacturing to the United States. Last month, there was a report that Foxconn had discussions about future expansion.
Though, today’s report says that both Apple and Foxconn are considering a $7 billion joint investment in the United States. More specifically, the two want to create a highly automated display facility that would eventually create 30-50,000 jobs in the U.S.
Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou says that Apple is interested in the investment because it needs the panels.
“Apple is willing to invest in the facility together because they need the [panels] as well,” Gou told reporters after the company’s annual year-end party in the Nankang district of Taipei. The U.S. production site eventually would create 30,000 to 50,000 jobs, the Taiwanese tycoon said.
Gou does have his reservations though, expressing doubts as to whether or not Americans will take the jobs and be willing to pay more for U.S.-based products.
“In the future they may be paying some $500 more for [U.S.] products, but those do not necessarily work better than a $300 phone,” he said, after urging U.S. authorities to provide concessions on land and electricity to facilitate Foxconn’s manufacturing operations.
