Indian electronics and semiconductor manufacturer Tata Electronics confirmed that a cybersecurity incident occurred on some of its systems several weeks ago. The company is a key supplier to tech giants such as Apple and Tesla. Prior to the incident being disclosed, a hacker forum posted a listing claiming to offer 630 GB of data allegedly stolen from Tata Electronics, containing over 204,300 files.
A large number of sample files have appeared on hacker forums.
A sample reviewed by TechCrunch appeared to include Apple supplier specifications and documents related to Tesla manufacturing. However, the authenticity, source, and completeness of this data have not yet been independently verified.
A Tata Electronics spokesperson said the company detected a security incident in some of its systems "a few weeks ago" and immediately initiated its response procedures. The company stated that the incident did not affect its business operations, and existing production and operational activities remained undisturbed.
The company has not disclosed the scope of the impact.
Tata Electronics did not provide further details on what the leaked data specifically consisted of, how many individuals or organizations were involved, whether customers were notified, or whether customer information from companies such as Apple and Tesla was compromised.
Reuters previously reported that Tata Electronics informed some employees involved in iPhone assembly operations of the data breach last week. The report also stated that Apple is investigating the incident and that Tata Electronics received a ransom demand.
India's position in the manufacturing chain continues to rise.
Tata Electronics was founded in 2020 and has grown rapidly in recent years as India expands its electronics manufacturing and semiconductor capacity. According to information on its parent company’s website, the company operates multiple factories across India with a total workforce of over 75,000 employees.
As global manufacturers continue to diversify their supply chains beyond China, India is emerging as a key alternative manufacturing hub. Tata Electronics is leveraging this trend to establish partnerships with companies such as Apple, ASML, Intel, Qualcomm, and Tesla.
In 2023, Tata entered iPhone manufacturing by acquiring Wistron’s operations in India. Since then, Tata Electronics has further expanded its role in Apple’s supply chain by acquiring a 60% stake in the Indian subsidiary of Pegatron. In 2024, Tata also signed a semiconductor supply agreement with Tesla.
Additional information: As of now, neither Apple nor Tesla has publicly responded to TechCrunch’s request for comment.