The highly-anticipated release of Apple (AAPL)’s iPhone 6 may be delayed after an explosion at a metal-polishing factory in the Chinese city of Kunshan that killed 75 people and injured many more has prompted a “safety inspection” across the country.
The inspection has triggered a nationwide stoppage of factory production involved in metal polishing, which may affect Foxconn Technology Group, Apple’s largest supplier of iPads and iPhones. Taiwan-based Foxconn, which is said to be working on the iPhone 6 at present, is known to be involved in doing metal polishing for the gadget’s aluminum body. That said however, it’s unclear if Foxconn is actually affected by the safety inspection.
Apple’s iPhone 6 is rumored to be released in September. If the company delays bringing its flagship device to the market, say until November, it won’t be able to raise the sales figure and thereby the revenue of its fourth fiscal quarter.
In premarket hours, shares of Apple were fractionally lower at $95.57.
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