Apple to move key iPad engineering resources to Vietnam

Apple is reportedly shifting product development resources for the iPad to Vietnam, according to a Nikkei report, working with China’s BYD, a key iPad assembler. This marks the first time Apple has transferred such resources for a core device to Vietnam. Engineering verification for test production of a new iPad model is slated to start in mid-February, with the model expected to be available in the second half of the next year. This move follows investments in Vietnam by Apple suppliers Luxshare and Foxconn earlier this year, as part of efforts to diversify production away from China.