Tata Electronics, the Indian electronics and semiconductor manufacturer that assembles iPhones and supplies semiconductors to Tesla, confirmed to TechCrunch on June 22 that it suffered a cybersecurity incident “a few weeks ago” after files purportedly taken from the company appeared on a hacker forum. The listing claims to offer over 630GB of data comprising more than 204,300 files; a sample reviewed by TechCrunch contained what appeared to be Apple supplier specifications and Tesla manufacturing documents, though their authenticity could not be independently verified. Cybersecurity researcher Rajshekhar Rajaharia told TechCrunch the leaked material also included Outlook email conversations and SAP-related information. A company spokesperson said the incident had “no impact on our operations,” but declined to answer questions about the nature of the compromised data, whether clients had been notified, or whether Apple or Tesla data was exposed. Reuters separately reported that Tata informed some employees at its iPhone assembly operations about the breach, that Apple is investigating, and that a ransom demand has been made.
Founded in 2020, Tata Electronics has grown rapidly into a critical node in India’s manufacturing push as global tech companies diversify supply chains away from China. The company employs over 75,000 people and entered iPhone manufacturing in 2023 by acquiring the India operations of Wistron, a longtime Apple supplier, and subsequently acquired a 60% stake in Pegatron’s Indian unit. It also signed a semiconductor supply agreement with Tesla in 2024. Neither Apple nor Tesla responded to requests for comment.