On October 12, 2016, Apple CEO Cook visited Shenzhen and announced that it will set up an R&D center in Shenzhen (South China headquarters), which will provide 200,000 jobs.
Recently, Apple said that the South China headquarters and the Shenzhen R&D center will be positioned as South China regional centers and procurement centers covering South and Southeast Asia—selected at Block A, Wanlian Building, Shekou Internet Valley.
Prior to this, Apple China's first R&D center settled in Chaoyang Park, Zhongguancun, Beijing. It will focus on R&D of computer hardware, communications, audio and video equipment, consumer electronics products and information technology. Beijing R&D center will have a total investment of 300 million yuan. RMB yuan, about 500 employees. Has a trading company in Shanghai.
Apple’s investment in Shekou Shekou Online Valley mainly includes supply chain management, operations, research and development, online sales, and offline retail. This means that Shekou will welcome thousands of top international mobile Internet industry professionals.
As early as January 28, 2016, Apple officially signed an agreement to settle in Shekou Internet Valley, the contract lease for 6 years, an area of ​​about 13,000 square meters, will continue to increase rent 15,000 square meters, making Shekou Internet Valley become Apple's third in China One of the major management centers is the South China Regional Center and the procurement centers covering South China and Southeast Asia.
Compared to Beijing's administrative headquarters and Shanghai sales headquarters, Apple did not establish a large regional headquarters in South China. As China increasingly becomes the most important consumer market for Apple, the Cook team is also deepening its localization operations and diversifying its investment.
As of the end of January 2016, Apple already has 32 official retail stores in China. Compared with 5 in Beijing and 4 in Shanghai, each of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Apple retail stores cannot meet the demand for strong purchases in South China. In addition to Guangzhou and Shenzhen, medium-sized cities such as Foshan and Dongguan also need further sinking of Apple's official sales channels.
In addition to improving sales channel considerations, another important and even characteristic feature of Apple South China headquarters is the procurement of upstream components and management of the supply chain system.
The South China Purchasing Center must be built at the source of the supply chain. It is clear that Shenzhen meets this requirement more than Guangzhou. Whether it is a large Apple foundry such as Shenzhen Foxconn, or an upstream production company with different components of Apple products in Shenzhen, it shows that the source of the supply chain of Apple products is in Shenzhen.
In addition to supply chain management, Apple South China headquarters will also undertake part of the R & D business. As the most technologically-conscious city in China, Shenzhen still has more advantages than Guangzhou. Regardless of Internet giants such as Tencent or technology giants such as Huawei, this young city in Shenzhen is becoming a strong competitor in the “China Silicon Valley†due to the booming civil high technology.
What is the reason for choosing Shekou Net Valley? According to reports, Apple has sent a world-class third-party inspection team from the US headquarters to carry out rigorous testing and evaluation of the conditions of air, groundwater, building safety, supporting services, and legal documents in the park. Its headquarters in the United States and China High-level leaders have very much recognized the Shekou Internet Valley Park environment. At the same time, the government also gave strong support.