Apple is rapidly expanding its manufacturing operations in India. According to a new report from Bloomberg News, around 25 percent of all new iPhones are now produced in India. The report says about 55 million iPhones were manufactured in India in 2025. This is a major jump from 36 million units produced in 2024. The data shows how quickly India has become one of the most important manufacturing hubs for Apple.
Apple first began assembling iPhones in India in 2017 with the iPhone SE (2016). The company later added the iPhone 6s to local production in 2018. At that time, Apple wanted to avoid India’s high import duties on smartphones manufactured in China. Local assembly allowed Apple to sell iPhones at more competitive prices in the Indian market. However, global events soon made India even more important for Apple.
As tensions increased during the US–China trade war, Apple started looking for ways to reduce its dependence on China for manufacturing. This is when India began to play a much bigger role in Apple’s supply chain.
Major manufacturing partners such as Foxconn, Pegatron, and Tata Electronics expanded their operations in the country. Over time, these companies started assembling most iPhone models locally.
With the launch of the iPhone 15 series, iPhone production saw a major shift. It became the first iPhone lineup assembled in India and available in the local market from day one. Earlier iPhones were typically assembled in India months after their global launch.
India’s government has also played a key role in attracting companies like Apple. Various manufacturing incentives and production-linked incentive programs have encouraged global companies to set up factories in the country. This has helped Apple expand its production capacity much faster.
For India, this growth is important. Large-scale electronics manufacturing creates jobs, strengthens supply chains, and positions the country as a major technology manufacturing hub.
Reports suggest that Apple may push even more production to India in the coming years. Some rumors say that all units of the upcoming iPhone 17 series sold in the United States could be assembled in India.
There are also reports that Apple is exploring chip assembly in India, which would take the country’s role in Apple’s supply chain to the next level.
For Apple, expanding production in India reduces risks. The company becomes less dependent on a single country for manufacturing. This is especially important as global trade tensions continue to affect supply chains.
For India, Apple’s investment strengthens the country’s position as a global electronics manufacturing hub. If the current trend continues, India could eventually become one of Apple’s largest production bases, alongside China.
