A new Foxconn facility has been opened and is ready to start producing iPads in time for shipping in December, according to reports from local Brazilian media outlet UOL.

The Jundiaí-based factory was constructed under a joint venture between Foxconn and the Brazilian government, which fronted $12 million towards the project.

Though Apple itself has not yet commented, Brazilian minister of science and technology Aolizio Mercadante confirmed the opening of the factory has taken place and that it will begin shipping iPads in December.

"At first many doubted, but it will be the first time that [Apple] will produce iPads outside Chinese territory," he said.

"We are taking a big step for digital inclusion in the country."

Chips with everything

In other Apple component news, industry sources claim the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has entered into a longterm foundry partnership deal with Apple. According to sources, TSMC's 28nm and 20nm process technologies will be used to produce Apple's next-generation chips.

It had previous been rumoured that Apple would drop Samsung for TSMC for the iPad 3's A6 chip and now those rumours appear to be coming true, though sources believe TSMC won't begin taking production orders from Apple until early 2012.

[Source: DigiTimes  (1)/(2)]