Apple Manufacturer Hiring 35,000 Employees to Build…

Apple is reportedly gearing up for some big manufacturing jobs this year. But why does the company's leading manufacturer, Foxconn, need so many new employees? And what are those employees being instructed to build?

The answers to both questions remain a mystery. But according to

(via

), Foxconn will soon invest millions of dollars in a new "Apple production line," which will be built in east China's Jiangsu province this October. China Daily cites "local authorities" as the source of the information. Apple fans are likely aware of the last time a China Daily story received international attention. The publication claimed that Foxconn's chief had

, a report that Foxconn denied

. This time around, China Daily's claims sound a bit more plausible. The media outlet claims that the plant that houses the new production line will be located in Huai'an city and will "produce components for American multinational corporation, Apple Inc." China Daily attributes the quote to the office of Taiwan Affairs of Huai'an city. Foxconn plans to hire a massive number of employees -- 35,800, to be exact -- to work in the new plant, which will reportedly span an area as large as 40,000 square meters. Foxconn is expected to spend $210 million on the plant, which could reach an annual output of $949 million to $1.1 billion. Given the hype surrounding the iPhone 5, many are bound to think that Foxconn is preparing to manufacture Apple's next smartphone. Some might also believe that Foxconn is getting ready for the next iPad, which might include a smaller (seven-inch) model, thus expanding Apple's manufacturing needs. But if Foxconn is truly increasing its manufacturing efforts for Apple, the more hopeful (and obvious?) conclusion is that the Mac maker is, in fact, building a new line of televisions. Foxconn is already capable of meeting iPhone demand and can mostly satisfy the demand for new iPads. Thus, the company must be making something

. Whether or not that something is a TV, only Apple and Foxconn know for sure.