AppleInsider reports today that according to Digitimes, Apple manufacturing partner Pegatron has taken on a “small volume” of orders to make the iPad 3, with a view to it being ready for a March launch. Digitimes has word from sources in Apple’s supply chain that Apple has decided to allocate primary production of future iterations of the iPad to Pegatron, with Foxconn concentrating more on producing the iPhone, although both companies will continue to make small quantities of the product that the other company is primarily responsible for. Digitimes is still sticking to its view that Apple will be releasing an iPad 4 in October, saying that Pegatron can expect a “significant increase” in orders prior to the launch of the iPad 4 in October, with 7-10 million iPads in the initial run. AppleInsider notes, however, that Daring Fireball’s John Gruber has referred to talk of an iPad 4 coming in October as “completely made-up nonsense.”

Source: AppleInsider | Pegatron reportedly lining up orders for third-gen iPad ahead of March launch