Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, visits BYD and other important mainland suppliers in Shanghai as the US tech company inaugurates its 57th store in China. Apple CEO Tim Cook’s recent visit to Shanghai showcased three important suppliers in China as the tech giant aims to address concerns about potentially shifting its manufacturing supply chain out of the country. During the visit, Cook met with Wang Chuanfu, the founder of electric vehicle maker BYD, Zhou Qunfei, the founder of touch screen manufacturer Lens Technology, and Chen Xiaoshuo, the CEO of electronic components manufacturer Shenzhen Everwin Precision Technology. The meeting took place before the opening of a new Apple Store in Shanghai’s Jing’an district. The new Apple Store in Greater China, which encompasses Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau, marks the company’s 57th location in the region. Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, convenes with the heads of three prominent suppliers from mainland China in Shanghai on March 20, 2024. Chen Xiaoshuo from Shenzhen Everwin Precision Technology, Zhou Qunfei from Lens Technology, and Wang Chuanfu from BYD were lined up from left to right. Image: Distributed for public use. During the meeting, Cook reassured Apple’s supply chain partners in China amidst competitors expanding into other countries like India and Vietnam. Cook emphasized the importance of China to Apple’s supply chain, stating the company has been increasing investment and expanding operations in the country for the past three decades. Apple recently announced plans to expand its research center in Shanghai and open a new lab in Shenzhen. BYD, a supplier to Apple since 2008, is based in Shenzhen and was founded by Wang in 2035. Initially, BYD focused on manufacturing metal casings for Apple products. However, the company has now broadened its manufacturing operations to also include glass and structural components, as well as carrying out assembly work for devices such as the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Lens Technology founder Zhou Qunfei and Apple CEO Tim Cook were seen inspecting some components at Apple’s office in Shanghai on March 20, 2024. Image from Weibo.