Apple to Begin Manufacturing Mac Minis in the US
Apple announced it will begin producing the Mac mini in the United States for the first time as part of a $600 billion domestic investment. The commitment also includes an expansion of AI server capacity and a new Advanced Manufacturing Center. The move signals a significant step in reshoring trends aimed at diversifying supply chains and de-risking from geopolitical instability.
- The Mac mini production will be located at a new factory on Apple's Houston manufacturing site, which will double the campus's footprint to 500,000 square feet. This facility already began producing advanced AI servers in 2025, ahead of schedule. - The Houston expansion is projected to create thousands of new jobs. As part of its $600 billion U.S. investment, Apple plans to directly hire 20,000 employees over four years, focusing on R&D, silicon engineering, software development, and AI. - Apple is also opening a 20,000-square-foot Advanced Manufacturing Center in Houston to provide hands-on training in advanced manufacturing techniques to students, supplier employees, and other businesses. This follows a similar model to the Apple Manufacturing Academy launched in Detroit. - This marks the first time the Mac mini, originally introduced in 2005 to attract Windows users, will be produced in the United States. The Mac mini is the second modern Mac computer to be manufactured domestically, alongside the Mac Pro. - The investment extends to Apple's supply chain, with the company on track to purchase over 100 million advanced chips from TSMC's Arizona facility in 2026. The plan also involves partners like Corning in Kentucky for cover glass, and GlobalWafers in Texas for silicon wafers. - This move is part of a broader trend of "reshoring" in the tech industry, as companies seek to create more resilient supply chains and reduce geopolitical risks. In 2024, reshoring and foreign direct investment accounted for 244,000 manufacturing jobs in the U.S.
