Apple’s commitment to India is growing stronger, with its key supplier, Foxconn, leading the charge in ramping up local manufacturing. The Taiwanese contract manufacturer is on track to produce between 25–30 million iPhones in India in 2025—more than double last year’s 12 million units. Trial runs are already underway at its newly developed 300-acre facility in Bengaluru, which is poised to become Apple’s second-largest iPhone plant after its main base in China.
Scaling Up iPhone Production in India
Foxconn’s Bengaluru facility is expected to play a crucial role in Apple’s goal to manufacture up to 25% of all iPhones in India by the end of 2024. The ongoing trial runs at the plant are designed to ensure that production meets Apple’s stringent quality standards. If successful, the site will transition to full-scale production later this year, solidifying India’s growing role in the global electronics supply chain.
“The trial runs are the first phase to evaluate whether the plant can operate at the scale required while maintaining Apple’s quality benchmarks,” said a source familiar with the matter. “Only once this phase is successful will Foxconn move on to the ‘revenue build’ stage, where iPhones will be manufactured and shipped at scale.”
Reducing Reliance on China
Apple has been working aggressively to reduce its over-dependence on China as its primary manufacturing hub. With geopolitical tensions and potential trade restrictions looming, India has emerged as a viable alternative. By the end of 2025, Apple aims to have India account for a significant portion of its global iPhone output. According to estimates from Isaiah Research, India’s contribution to iPhone production is expected to rise from last year’s 12–16% to 21–25% this year.
“Driven by Apple’s push to diversify its supply chain, Foxconn is significantly increasing its production in India,” said Lori Chang, senior analyst at Taipei-based Isaiah Research. “We expect this shift to accelerate in the coming years.”
Expanding Beyond Smartphones
Foxconn’s ambitions in India extend beyond iPhone assembly. The company has already begun production of AirPods at a new unit in Hyderabad, further broadening Apple’s manufacturing footprint in the country. Additionally, its existing Sriperumbudur campus near Chennai remains a key production site, responsible for the bulk of iPhone assembly in India.
Beyond smartphones, Foxconn’s vision includes manufacturing products for multiple sectors, including information and communication technology (ICT), electric vehicles (EVs), energy, and digital health. “We want to move up the value chain as much as we can in India,” said Foxconn Chairman Young Liu during his visit to India last year. “Apart from ICT, we see great potential in EVs, energy solutions, and medical devices for personal and home use.”
Reviving Semiconductor Plans
Foxconn is also making a renewed push into semiconductor manufacturing in India. The company recently announced a $37.2 million investment to establish a chip packaging and testing facility in collaboration with Indian IT giant HCL Group. This move follows the collapse of its joint semiconductor venture with the Vedanta Group last year.
A Strategic Shift for Apple and Foxconn
With Apple’s continued expansion in India, Foxconn is aligning its strategy to support this growth. Reports indicate that Apple shipped between 10–15 million iPhones from India last year, with expectations to significantly increase this number in the coming years.
While Apple does not publicly disclose production figures, estimates suggest that India accounted for around 5–7% of global iPhone shipments in 2023. However, some analysts, including Ming-Chi Kuo, believe the actual number was higher—between 12% and 14%. By 2024, this figure is expected to rise to between 20% and 25%, further cementing India’s position as a key manufacturing hub.
India’s Growing Manufacturing Appeal
The Indian government has been actively incentivizing companies to expand local manufacturing through various subsidy programs. With additional pressure from potential U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports, Apple is ramping up its India-based production efforts to mitigate supply chain risks.
Foxconn’s expansion and Apple’s increasing reliance on Indian manufacturing signal a significant shift in the global electronics industry. As India becomes a central player in Apple’s supply chain, the country’s role in global smartphone production is poised to grow exponentially in the years to come.
