Following years of bad publicity over conditions at Foxconn factories in China, Apple CEO Tim Cook told NBC’s Brian Williams this week that the company will “be doing one of [their] existing Mac lines in the United States” next year.

Appearing on Rock Center, Cook did not specify which line, or where exactly the production will take place. (Apple does not have any internal manufacturing facilities in the US.)

The claim came after Williams asked why Apple does not produce American-made products. Cook quickly pointed out that several components of iPhones are American-made, even for international models.

But taking the issue further, the tech leader said that Chinese production is not so much a matter of cost, but of skills. Cook claimed that the US has lost the manufacturing skills that Apple needs for production, and only a “concerted effort” will get them back.

I think Cook certainly has a point about American manufacturing, but is also downplaying the cost aspect. I doubt that American Apple manufacturing employees would tolerate $630/month salaries like their Taiwanese Foxconn counterparts, not to mention the reported draconian conditions of the factories and dormitories.

What do you think of Apple’s US production plans?

[via Engadget]

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