Tata Electronics, an Indian electronics and semiconductor manufacturer and a major supplier to tech giants such as Apple and Tesla, acknowledged the data breach weeks after files allegedly obtained from the company were posted on a hacker forum.
The confirmation comes amid a list on a hacker forum that claims to have provided over 630GB of data (consisting of over 204,300 files) allegedly stolen from Tata Electronics. TechCrunch reviewed a sample of the files and found what appears to be Apple's supplier specifications and Tesla's manufacturing documents. We were unable to independently verify the authenticity, origin, or completeness of the data.
Founded in 2020, Tata Electronics has emerged as a leading company driving the expansion of electronics manufacturing and semiconductor production in India. The company operates facilities across India and employs more than 75,000 people, according to its parent company's website. Tata has forged partnerships with global companies such as Apple, ASML, Intel, Qualcomm and Tesla as manufacturers diversify their supply chains beyond China and look to India as an alternative production hub.
Cybersecurity researcher Rajshekhar Rajaharia told TechCrunch that the data promoted on the forum included Outlook email conversations, SAP-related information, and documents purportedly related to some of Tata Electronics' customers, including Apple and Tesla.
A Tata Electronics spokesperson confirmed the incident in a statement to TechCrunch, saying the company identified a cybersecurity incident on some of its systems “a few weeks ago” and immediately activated response protocols. The spokesperson added that the incident “has no impact on our overall business and remains unaffected.”
But the company declined to answer questions about the nature of the data compromised, the number of individuals and organizations affected, whether customers were notified, and whether information belonging to customers such as Apple and Tesla was compromised.
Reuters reported that Tata Electronics notified some employees at its iPhone assembly plant last week about the data breach. The report also said that Apple was investigating the incident and a ransom demand was made against Tata Electronics.
The breach comes as the Tata Group plays an increasingly larger role in the global technology supply chain. The company entered iPhone manufacturing in 2023 by acquiring the Indian operations of Taiwanese contract manufacturer Wistron, a longtime Apple supplier. Tata Electronics later acquired a 60% stake in the Indian unit of Pegatron, another major manufacturing partner of Apple.
Tata also underlined its expanding ties with some of the world's biggest technology companies, signing a semiconductor supply deal with Tesla in 2024.
Apple and Tesla did not respond to TechCrunch's requests for comment.
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