Apple announced that it is pledging US$100 billion (~RM422 billion) to US domestic investment. The company’s pledges will bring the country’s total investments up to a total of US$600 billion (~RM2.54 trillion) over the next four years.
In addition to the US$100 billion pledge, Apple also announced that it is launching a new American Manufacturing Program (AMA). “Today, we’re proud to increase our investments across the United States to $600 billion over four years and launch our new American Manufacturing Program,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “This includes new and expanded work with 10 companies across America. They produce components that are used in Apple products sold all over the world, and we’re grateful to the President for his support.”
Part of the AMA’s plan includes building the world’s largest and most advanced smartphone glass production factory in the state of Kentucky. Additionally, the company from Cupertino will be entering a multiyear agreement with Coherent, the company responsible for its Face ID technology.
US President Trump was undoubtedly happy, considering how its furthers his agenda for bringing chip manufacturing activities into his country. “Companies like Apple, they’re coming home. They’re all coming home,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, where Cook also gave him a souvenir with a 24-karat gold base. US-made, of course.
When asked if Apple intends to build iPhones entirely within the US, Cook said many of its products’ components, including semiconductors, glass, and Face ID modules, are already made domestically. Only the final assembly of the device is done overseas, and that part of the process will stay that way “for a while.”
