(Yicai Global) Nov. 7 -- Customers will experience longer wait times for Apple’s newly released iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone Pro Max smartphones as the US tech giant’s biggest assembly facility in China battles a flare-up of the novel coronavirus.

“The primary iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max assembly facility… is currently operating at significantly reduced capacity,” the California-based smartphone giant said on its website yesterday. “We now expect lower iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max shipments than we previously anticipated and customers will experience longer wait times to receive their new products.”

The facility in Zhengzhou, central Henan province is run by iPhone contract manufacturer Hon Hai Precision Industry, better known as Foxconn. Some workers fled the factory to escape the strict epidemic prevention and control measures being implemented.

As the peak Christmas season approaches, the Taipei-based firm has started to offer staff who stay at the plant and work regular shifts generous bonuses starting from CNY400 (USD55) per day, and is also actively recruiting more staff to keep the production lines humming.

Ninety percent of iPhones are made in China, Ivan Lam, a senior analyst at Counterpoint Research, told Yicai Global. And Foxconn’s Zhengzhou plant produces about 80 percent of the iPhone 14 series and more than 85 percent of the iPhone 14 Pros.

"We are working closely with our supplier to return to normal production levels while ensuring the health and safety of every worker," Apple said.

Editor: Kim Taylor