Apple Inc. is set to bolster its commitment to U.S. manufacturing by opening a new manufacturing program in downtown Detroit. And now President Donald Trump is bringing even stronger pressure on the tech giant. He berates them to produce more jobs here on U.S. soil. The effort encompasses various streams of training the next generation of American manufacturers. Apple engineers have been directly involved in these workshops, helping to increase capacity and skills for the region’s emerging manufacturing industry.
That’s the rumor after Apple CEO Tim Cook’s recent sit-down with President Trump. At the time of their meeting, the administration was trying to pressure Cook to increase Apple’s domestic employee count. Here’s what Trump personally told him, “My friend, I treated you very good. You’re coming here with $500 billion, but now I hear you’re building all over India. I don’t want you building in India.” This rejoinder presents the administration’s concerns about that prospect and Apple’s plans to diversify its production to India. Aside from sidestepping Chinese tariffs, Cook affirmed that the announcement is largely a significant logistical decision.
Along with the new Advanced Manufacturing skills program, it will broaden the reach of the Apple Developer Academy. Now that academy has taken root in Detroit, in partnership with Michigan State University. The academy enrolls just under 200 students per year. It’s commitment to prepare them with the skills they need for this booming tech industry.
Beyond the manufacturing academy, Apple has taken tangible steps towards increasing their production muscle in the U.S. This move follows the company’s decision to recently mass Mac Pros in a Flextronics facility in Austin, Texas. Both Trump and Cook toured this facility on November 20, 2019, alongside Ivanka Trump and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, highlighting the administration’s interest in Apple’s domestic operations.
Apple’s Chief Operating Officer, Jeff Williams just recently announced his passing of duties to Sabih Khan tucked in this quarter’s earnings report. Khan noted just how important the new initiatives are. According to him, “With this new programming, we’re excited to support thousands more manufacturers in adopting smart manufacturing technologies to open up incredible new potential for their firms—and our nation’s—competitiveness.”
Apple continues to shift more of its production facilities to India. This surprising decision is now under fire from President Trump himself, even as the administration continues to call for increased U.S. investment. As part of its growth strategy, Apple plans to invest $500 billion over the coming years—a testament to its commitment to both domestic and international markets.