Taipei Times
Date: Apr 07, 2017
By: Lauly Li / Staff reporter

Compal Electronics Co (仁寶) has reportedly joined Apple Inc’s Apple Watch supply chain and is likely to start shipments in the second half of this year, challenging Quanta Computer Inc’s (廣達) position as the product’s sole assembler, the Chinese-language newspaper Digitimes said yesterday.

Quanta has been the sole assembler of Apple Watch’s first and second-generation series since the US company unveiled its smartwatch in September 2014.

While Quanta has secured 100 percent order allocation for the next-generation Apple Watch, which is expected to be released in the second half of the year, Compal will be sharing the production load for the second-generation series, Digitimes said, citing sources in upstream supply chains.

To prepare for the manufacturing of Apple Watch in the second half, Compal has moved its smart devices manufacturing equipment from its Chinese plants in Nanjing and Kunshan to Chongqing, the report said.    [FULL  STORY]