Flextronics Hiring 1,700 Workers in Austin for 'Next Generation Desktop Computer', Likely New Mac Pro

mac_pro_2013The Austin American-Statesman reports that Flextronics America is currently in the middle of a hiring effort that will see the company employing as many as 1,700 workers to build a "next generation desktop computer" at the company's facilities in Austin, Texas. While Flextronics will not reveal the identity of the computer or the company behind it, speculation naturally points toward Apple's radically redesigned Mac Pro.

Flextronics America, which has ramped up hiring and spent tens of millions of dollars to renovate its Northwest Austin factory over the past two years, will start manufacturing a "next generation desktop computer" at the upgraded plant, according to a presentation it filed Monday with Travis County commissioners.

The document, part of a push by the computer and electronics manufacturer to have its Central Texas facilities designated as a foreign trade zone, suggests the company already created 879 jobs for the project and could add another 815 positions if it hits peak targets.

Flextronics had previously been named as Apple's contract manufacturer for the Mac Pro as part of an effort to bring some Mac production back to the United States, but we had received an unconfirmed tip that Flextronics would be using its facility in Fort Worth, Texas where it manufactures the Moto X smartphone.

It appears that the company will instead be using its Austin facilities that are less than a mile from Apple's existing operations campus where it employees roughly 4,000 workers. That campus is currently undergoing a major expansion that will see Apple spending over $300 million to add at least 3,600 new employees there over ten years.

Apple announced back in June that the new Mac Pro would be launching later this year, and the machine is expected to be featured at the company's media event reportedly scheduled for next Tuesday.

Related Roundup: Mac Pro
Buyer's Guide: Mac Pro (Neutral)
Related Forum: Mac Pro

Popular Stories

Apple Shopping Event 2025

Apple Announces 2025 Black Friday Event, Here's What You Can Get

Thursday November 20, 2025 6:28 am PST by
Apple's annual four-day Black Friday through Cyber Monday shopping event is returning on Friday, November 28 through Monday, December 1 in many countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Thailand, and others. During the shopping event, customers can get an Apple gift card with...
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Adds These New Features to Your iPhone

Thursday November 20, 2025 10:50 am PST by
iOS 26.2 is currently in beta testing. The upcoming update includes a handful of new features and changes on the iPhone, including a new Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics for Apple Music, and more. In a recent press release, Apple confirmed that iOS 26.2 will be released to all users in December, but it did not provide a specific release date. Keep reading...
hikawa phone grip stand apple%402x

Apple Launches Second Limited-Edition iPhone Accessory in a Month

Friday November 21, 2025 3:53 am PST by
Apple has begun selling the Hikawa Phone Grip and Stand, a new limited-edition iPhone accessory designed with accessibility in mind. Designed by LA-based Bailey Hikawa to celebrate the 40th anniversary of accessibility at Apple, the grip uses magnets to securely snap onto any iPhone with MagSafe. Apple says it can be removed with ease, and doubles as a stand with two different viewing...
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

10 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 18 Pro

Wednesday November 19, 2025 4:00 am PST by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...
ipad black friday 2025

The Best Early Black Friday iPad Deals

Thursday November 20, 2025 10:20 am PST by
Black Friday is just over a week away, and iPad deals have finally started to flood in at retailers like Amazon and Best Buy. Below we're tracking discounts on every current generation iPad, including lowest-ever prices on M3 iPad Air and M5 iPad Pro, plus steep markdowns on iPad and iPad mini. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a ...
ipad mini 7 feature red and blue

iPad Mini 8: Four Major New Features to Expect

Wednesday November 19, 2025 7:50 am PST by
Apple's eighth-generation iPad mini is highly likely to arrive next year, offering a significant refresh of the device with at least four major new features. OLED Display The next-generation version of the iPad mini could feature an OLED display, as part of Apple's plan to expand the display technology across many more of its devices. Apple's first OLED device was the Apple Watch in 2015, ...
watchos 26 workout app

Apple Watch Users Claim Workout App Is Now Worse in Every Way

Thursday November 20, 2025 7:01 am PST by
Apple Watch owners have been voicing their frustration online over changes to the Workout app that Apple introduced in watchOS 26, with many finding the redesigned interface makes starting exercises difficult and exasperating. When Apple launched watchOS 26 in September, the Workout app went from large, easily tapped workout tiles to a scrolling, corner-button interface. Instead of tapping a ...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Two More U.S. States Commit to Offering iPhone Driver's Licenses in Apple Wallet App

Thursday November 20, 2025 8:21 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Earlier this week, Illinois became the 13th state in the U.S. to offer the feature. Subsequently, we shared a list of additional states that are committed...
android iphone airdrop quickshare

iPhone Users Can Now AirDrop Files to Android Devices

Thursday November 20, 2025 9:47 am PST by
Google today announced a new cross-platform feature that allows for file sharing between iPhone and Android users. With AirDrop on the iPhone and QuickShare on Pixel 10 devices, there is a new file transfer function available. The file sharing option works on Apple devices that include iPhone, iPad, and Mac, along with the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Fold....

Top Rated Comments

AustinIllini Avatar
158 months ago
Why doesn't Apple build its own assembly facility...

Always relying on third party is sad, with the money they have...

They're finally bringing production of something back to the USA, and they are sending it out to a contracted builder...

Yeah. I'm going to need that downvote button back

"Next Generation Desktop Computer"

This is why I hate Apple marketing. When was the last time you saw an ad for a "Next Generation Mac Truck"?

It's not an ad. It's a description by a third party company to inform potential hires what they will be doing.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Davejay Avatar
158 months ago
So wait...

They're only hiring workers now? I thought this thing was supposed to be available soon. So much for an October 22nd release.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
violst Avatar
158 months ago
Another Mac Pro rumor today, Finally the Mac Pro is getting some love again.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HiVolt Avatar
158 months ago
Why doesn't Apple build its own assembly facility...

Always relying on third party is sad, with the money they have...

They're finally bringing production of something back to the USA, and they are sending it out to a contracted builder...
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Thunderhawks Avatar
158 months ago
Why doesn't Apple build its own assembly facility...

Always relying on third party is sad, with the money they have...

They're finally bringing production of something back to the USA, and they are sending it out to a contracted builder...

If you are serious and have a few days, we can begin to explain the book of production issues.

As some others already posted, one cannot develop production know how overnight. The resources that takes are better spent in areas of ones expertise.

Contract work has many advantages over owning and running a factory. (I have done both)

Besides personnel management, HR issues, paperwork for thousands of employees, ever changing production lines require further investments and what if the day comes that there is no work for a factory when a product cycle is finished?

If you contract, no worries. You just don't place any orders and if you own an Apple factory and now want to contract for others, that won't work as these are competitors.

The type of production output needed for iPhones and iPads requires a lot of workers and the amount of qualified personnel is not available in the US.
(engineers for example)

Supervising a Contract manufacturer is much easier. One can tell them what specs to work by, push them for greater output and offload all production issues to them.

If that would all happen internally Apple would have a ton of internal discussions with she said and he said arguing when something goes wrong.

US labor laws and practices are also not business friendly.

The list goes on and on.

Just because Apple has money, doesn't mean they need to spend it unwisely.

Owning a plant doesn't give them more bang for the buck. Developing the next best thing does!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iMat77 Avatar
158 months ago
Increasing the size of a factory and hiring workers is only part of the "Manufacturing puzzle".

Apple doesn't have the know how currently to create such a plant. And a manufacturer produces several electronic goods and can have scale economies as well as output flexibility, as well as machinery patents.

Creating a manufacturing know how in house is too expensive and not "critical" for apple. They prefer, rightly so, to keep the "design know how" in house. Which, in itself, is already an enormous deal. Designing custom silicon is already a gigantic feat.

I prefer them doing it and leaving assembly to specialized companies with know how, experience, flexibility and scale economies.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)