Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Aug 16: Electronics manufacturing services firm Amber Enterprises India is set to enter the smartphone manufacturing segment, with the company expecting to begin commercial production of smartphones for Chinese brands Oppo, OnePlus and Realme from the first quarter of financial year 2027-28.
Amber Enterprises India Executive Chairman, CEO and Whole-time Director Jasbir Singh said the company is on track to commence trial production by the fourth quarter of FY27, followed by commercial manufacturing in the March 2027 quarter.
The manufacturing collaboration has been signed with Oppo Mobiles India and covers the three smartphone brands — Oppo, OnePlus and Realme. Amber plans to begin operations with a production capacity of around eight million smartphones in the first year and expects to almost double the output to 15-16 million units in the second year.
"Our group is set to foray into mobile phones through a manufacturing collaboration agreement with Oppo Mobiles India. The scope covers three brands, Oppo, OnePlus and Realme. We are on course to commence the trial production by quarter 4 of FY27 and commercial production to begin quarter 1 of FY28," Singh said during the company's earnings call.
The company has also appointed a chief operating officer to lead its mobile phone manufacturing vertical. Singh said production would be increased in phases as operations stabilise.
The move comes as major Chinese smartphone brands increasingly explore asset-light manufacturing models in India. Oppo and Vivo were originally established under China's BBK Electronics, although both companies now operate independently. Oppo smartphones are also manufactured at Vivo's facility in Noida for the Indian market.
Vivo is separately working on a plan to transfer its manufacturing plant into a joint venture being established with Dixon Technologies. The shift by Chinese smartphone brands towards partnerships with Indian electronics manufacturers could reduce their direct manufacturing exposure in the country.
Vivo and Oppo have also faced regulatory scrutiny in India. Vivo has faced action from the Enforcement Directorate, while Oppo has been investigated by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence over tax-related matters.
According to Counterpoint Research, Vivo remained India's largest smartphone brand by sales volume in the second quarter of 2026, with a 17.8 per cent market share. Samsung followed with 17.6 per cent, while Oppo stood third with a 13.6 per cent share.
Brands associated with the Vivo and Oppo groups, including iQoo, Realme and OnePlus, together accounted for 45.6 per cent of India's smartphone market during the quarter.
Meanwhile, Amber Enterprises expects continued pressure on margins in its printed circuit board business due to a sharp increase in copper-clad laminate prices. Singh said the company has been passing the increased costs on to customers, although with a time lag.
"CopperClad Laminate price is continuing to increase. It will keep on increasing because of artificial intelligence and data centre requirements. There is a lot of shortage of Copperclad Laminate also. We are able to pass on to the customers all the price increases we have," he said.
The company is also planning to establish its own copper-clad laminate manufacturing facility, which Singh said is expected to be operational by 2029-30.
The smartphone manufacturing foray and planned expansion into copper-clad laminate production are expected to strengthen Amber Enterprises' position in India's rapidly expanding electronics manufacturing ecosystem.