Apple is reportedly set to produce all four models of the iPhone 17 in India, ahead of the expected launch of the flagship smartphone in India.
In a boost to India’s domestic manufacturing, the tech giant is also expanding iPhone 17 production across five factories, some of which are recently opened facilities, according to a report by Bloomberg.
Tata Group’s plant in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, and Foxconn’s production facility close to the Bengaluru airport, both of which recently became operational, will join existing units in producing the iPhone 17, as per the report.
This is the first time that Apple will produce and ship all new variations of an iPhone from India from the outset. The move comes as Apple looks to navigate the Trump administration’s constantly shifting tariffs landscape by shifting the vast majority of the smartphone’s production for the US market to India from China.
Tata’s new plant joining iPhone 17 production also points to the conglomerate’s potential role as a key partner of Apple. Tata Group is currently the only Indian company assembling iPhone 17s in the country, as Taiwan-based Foxconn has so far been Apple’s leading contractor here.
In 2023, Tata bought Wistron Corp’s Apple production plant located in Karnataka. It also owns a controlling stake in Pegatron’s plant just outside of Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Tata-owned facilities are expected to contribute up to half of India’s iPhone output over the next two years, as per the report.
The value of iPhone exports from India has grown substantially. The Indian Express had earlier reported that India’s share in US smartphone imports surged to nearly 36 per cent in the first five months of 2025, from about 11 per cent in 2024. China, which continues to dominate the product category, saw its share drop from 82 per cent to 49 per cent over the same period.
Story continues below this ad
Tariff threat looms large
In April, US President Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on a number of countries, including India. Days later, the US exempted phones, computers and other electronic products from the reciprocal tariffs.
More recently, Trump slapped 50 per cent tariffs on India partly as a response to India’s purchases of Russian oil. However, Apple’s iPhones have so far emerged unscathed under exemptions. Earlier this month, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced a fresh commitment to invest $100 billion in the United States, with a particular focus on deepening its manufacturing base in the country.
© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
0
0
Average Rating