Apple’s been criticised in the past for not manufacturing its products in the US, and has given a number of excuses when pressed on the matter. However, Google has now proven that high-tech goods can be produced in the US, the company’s new Nexus Q is “Designed and Manufactured in the USA” according to the inscription on the device.
There are a number of reasons why Apple manufacturers products in factories in China and other Far East countries, not only are workers cheaper, but overseas factories offer more flexibility, diligence and industrial skills. A report has also claimed that Apple has to manufacturer the iPad in China in order to get access to rare earth materials.
When asked why Apple isn’t manufacturing the iPhone in the US, Apple’s late-CEO Steve Jobs told US President Barack Obama in February 2011: "Those jobs aren't coming back," complaining that there is a massive skills shortage in the US prohibiting the manufacturer of such goods there.
Google’s Andy Rubin said that the company had made a conscious effort to test the possibility of manufacturing in the US with this product: “We’ve been absent for so long,” he said, referring to manufacturing not happing in the US, and added: “We decided, ‘Why don’t we try it and see what happens?’”
The report in the New York Times notes that consumer electronics manufacturers will be closely watching this case, to see if it disproves the accepted wisdom that consumer electronics products can no longer be made in the United States.
However, Google’s device has a high price than similar devices manufactured outside of the country, notes the report. The report also notes that Google is not disclosing details about where components of the device were manufactured.
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Mackly said on Thu, 28 Jun 2012
"Manufactured" in the US? Or "assembled" in the US from parts imported from overseas?
nowandforever said on Thu, 28 Jun 2012
Mackly, I've read articles claiming most of the parts are also sourced/made within the US.
But what this article glosses over is that the device isn't just a little more than a comparable device, it's 3 TIMES MORE. $300 vs the comparable AppleTV for $99.
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