Apple Opens Houston Manufacturing Plant for AI Servers and Mac Minis

The 250,000-square-foot Advanced Manufacturing Center will assemble AI servers for Apple and begin production of Mac mini desktop computers later this year. Apple said it invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the plant, which was set up in less than nine months.

CEO Tim Cook and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick attended the opening, where Apple also launched its first training cohort for small- and medium-sized business leaders. The program includes hands-on sessions led by Apple engineers on smart manufacturing techniques such as machine-learning-driven quality control and advanced automation.

The Houston center builds on the Apple Manufacturing Academy, which opened in Detroit in August 2025 and has trained nearly 1,000 American workers, students, and entrepreneurs. Apple's push into U.S. manufacturing comes as President Donald Trump has long urged the company to produce iPhones domestically, while Apple has remained cautious about tariffs.

Lutnick called the opening 'an important step in Apple delivering on its promise to bring its manufacturing back to America.' Cook, who will become executive chairman on September 1, 2026, with John Ternus taking over as CEO, said the facility is part of building 'the future of American manufacturing.'