Apple opened an advanced manufacturing technology training facility in Houston, Texas, and emphasized its cooperation with the Trump administration.
On the 13th (local time), Apple held an opening ceremony for an approximately 1,860-square-meter Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMC) at Foxconn's plant complex in Houston. The event was attended by Minister Howard Lutnick of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, and Houston Mayor John Whitmire, among others.
The center is Apple's second U.S. manufacturing training facility after Detroit, Michigan. It trains small and midsize business officials and college students in advanced process technologies such as quality control and production automation using Machine Learning.
The Foxconn plant where the center is located has an area of about 90,000 square meters and has been assembling artificial intelligence (AI) servers since October last year. By the end of this year, it will add a 15,800-square-meter production line and is also set to begin producing Apple's small desktop "Mac mini."
Apple CEO Tim Cook said, "We have invested hundreds of millions of dollars here in a period of not even nine months," emphasizing long-term investment in U.S. workers and manufacturing. Minister Lutnick also assessed the facility as an important step showing Apple's promise to return to manufacturing.
Apple said it will invest $600 billion in the United States over the next four years, and it has decided to outsource part of its semiconductor production to Intel and procure wafers from TSMC's Arizona plant. Amid this investment push in the United States, it also received partial exemptions from the Trump administration's high tariff.
However, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) noted that Apple, while expanding production in India, has not presented a concrete plan for President Trump's request to make iPhones in the United States. Most of the capital expenditure for the Houston plant is borne by Foxconn, and Apple purchases the output. The event also drew attention as one of the last official engagements for Cook, who is set to step down next month.