Apple to Make All iPhone 17 Models In India For The First Time: Report

News18

13 hours ago

Apple is expanding iPhone production in India, including all iPhone 17 models, to reduce reliance on China.
Apple is expanding iPhone production in India across five factories, including two recently opened plants, as part of its effort to reduce reliance on China for US-bound models, Bloomberg reported.
For the first time, all four iPhone 17 models — including the pro-level versions — are being manufactured in India ahead of their launch next month. According to people familiar with the matter cited by Bloomberg, the devices will ship from the South Asian country from day one.
Apple has steadily broadened its local manufacturing base, shifting much of its US-focused iPhone production from China to India to cushion the impact of tariffs, Bloomberg noted.
The expansion covers Tata Group's facility in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, and Foxconn Technology Group's production hub near Bangalore airport, both of which have recently gone live. In a sign of Tata's growing importance as an Apple partner, factories controlled by the conglomerate could account for nearly half of India's iPhone output within the next two years.
India's iPhone exports surged by 53% year-on-year in the first half of 2025, reaching 23.9 million units, up from 15.6 million units in the same period last year.
The United States emerged as the dominant export destination, accounting for 78% of iPhones shipped from India in H1 2025 — an increase from 53% a year earlier. Meanwhile, other key markets such as the Netherlands, UAE, Czech Republic, UK, and Japan saw their shares fall, each contributing just 2-4%.
'Foxconn led with over half the volume, while the Tata Group now accounts for nearly 4 in 10 iPhones exported from India. This shift reflects improving yield rates, line maturity, and Apple's growing confidence in India as a core manufacturing base," said Sanyam Chaurasia, principal analyst at Canalys Omdia.
The ramp-up was initiated by severe COVID-19 lockdowns in China that disrupted operations at Apple's largest plant, compelling the tech giant to reduce its overdependence on the country. A large share of these iPhones are assembled at Foxconn Technology Group's facility in southern India, with Tata Group's electronics arm also emerging as a key contributor.
view comments
First Published:
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Loading comments...