An Apple store in Shanghai. [Photo/IC]

Apple Inc said on March 12 that it is expanding in China with new applied research labs, in its latest move to tap into the country's manufacturing and research and development prowess to produce the best products.

Isabel Ge Mahe, vice-president and managing director of Apple Greater China, told China Daily that "We have already invested 1 billion yuan ($139.4 million) into applied research lab in China. And with the new expansion plan, our investment will continue growing."

Apple said it will enhance the capabilities of its Shanghai applied research lab to support the reliability, quality, and material analysis for all product lines.

Later this year, the US company will also establish a new applied research lab in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, providing stronger support for employees in the region and deepening collaboration with local suppliers. This new lab will strengthen testing and research capabilities for products such as iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro.

"We choose to have the two applied research labs in China, because of the country's manufacturing prowess and local suppliers' strong presence," Isabel Ge Mahe said.

According to her, in the past five years, the number of Apple's research and development staff members have doubled in China.