At present, Apple produces 7% of its iPhones within the borders of India.
Apple’s hardware manufacturing collaborator, Foxconn, is reportedly preparing to commence the production of the iPhone 15 series at its facility in Tamil Nadu. According to a report by Bloomberg, Foxconn is making preparations to assemble the upcoming iPhone 15 at its plant located in Sriperumbudur.
In addition to Foxconn, the same Bloomberg report indicates that Pegatron and Wistron (which is on the verge of being acquired by Tata Group) are also reportedly engaged in iPhone 15 manufacturing activities in India. These companies are currently in the process of procuring components for the said manufacturing endeavors.
Apple has been engaged in iPhone manufacturing within India since 2017, with the iPhone SE marking the initial model assembled within the nation. In the previous year, the company commenced the production of the iPhone 14 a mere three months following its launch. In the present year, Apple is working diligently to minimize the time gap between its manufacturing activities in India and China. Consequently, it’s plausible to anticipate that the ‘made-in-India’ version of the iPhone 15 could potentially hit store shelves within a few weeks following its official launch.
Nonetheless, Apple has restricted its manufacturing activities in India to the base versions of iPhones, with the Pro iPhone models remaining exclusively manufactured in China. A recent report from PTI also indicates that Apple has initiated the production of AirPods at its factory located in Hyderabad, India.
In light of the ongoing political tensions between the United States and China, Apple is gradually diversifying its manufacturing operations away from China. India has particularly benefited from this shift, with the country accounting for 7 percent of iPhone production, thanks to this strategic development.
Beyond manufacturing, Apple is intensifying its endeavors to enhance the promotion and sales of iPhones. Consequently, the company currently boasts two authorized retail stores, and notably, India has ascended to become the fifth-largest global market for iPhones.
