So, if anyone mentioned the word “Cupertino” to you, you might think of Apple. After all, that’s where it’s been headquartered. But, that may not be where its iPhones might get manufactured. Usually, that’s done in China. But, in recent times, India has, also, played a role in the assembly and manufacturing of iPhones.
Way back in September 2023, it was said that Apple had overtaken Samsung to become the largest smartphone exporter from India. In the June quarter of 2023, Apple shipped close to 50% of India’s total smartphone exports, which was said to surpass Samsung, which shipped 45%. And later on, it was announced that the Tata Group was venturing into iPhone manufacturing in partnership with Apple.
To some extent, in 2025 and beyond, technology might be power. That might even be an understatement. The way the global supply chain moves and what countries are picked might have all sorts of geopolitical implications and stem from geopolitical decisions.
That’s interesting, considering a May 2025 report suggesting that Apple plans to assemble every iPhone intended for the US market in India by the end of 2025. Since 2020, it seems like Western companies have been reducing their reliance on China for manufacturing and supply chain operations gradually. But, now, this is a whole move.
Sure, one model of iPhones was being assembled in India. But, this is a totally aggressive supply chain overhaul.
So, Apple’s out of China, right? It’s escaped it?
Even names, like Wistron – which Tata Electronics acquired the Indian operations of -, Foxconn and Pegatron, which you might have heard of, are from Taiwan. But, maybe, the geopolitical winds have gotten a bit icy. With Trump 2.0, the most common phrases heard were “trade wars” and “tariffs”. The US government was said to have slapped a 145% tariff on Chinese-made goods, which might affect the American companies paying for these tariffs, which might mean that the consumers might have to pay more.
Sure, people already have exorbitant prices for their iPhones and even higher prices if they want to double the internal storage. But, would they pay 3x or 5x what they currently pay?
So, maybe, the era of cheap Chinese iPhones might be over. Made in India, as Alisha Chinai evoked.
Remember how in April 2023, Apple CEO Timothy Cook inaugurated Apple’s first physical retail store in Mumbai? This takes it to the next level. Some estimate that Apple reached a production scale of just shy of 45 million iPhones in India for both domestic consumption and exports. That’s said to be about 20% of its global shipments in 2024.
Maybe, it’s going beyond the Avengers and iPhones being assembled. Another entity Jabil – an Apple supplier – is producing plastic casings for AirPods at its Pune plant and may expand operations for the production of AirPods. Interestingly, one of Tata’s Apple factories, which makes cases for iPhones, had about 50% of its produced cases fail Apple’s quality check control. That’s slightly worrisome. If Apple’s all about speed and precision, the Indian operation infrastructure might have to upskill.
One PBS transcript suggested that the Indian workforce and engineers could be trained to produce more advanced versions of its product with Foxconn sending in engineers from China to India to train Indian engineers. So, maybe, Apple still hasn’t escaped China… yet. But, if Taiwan isn’t entirely happy about the exodus, would there be some kind of throttle? So, is India some kind of insurance policy for Apple? Is Apple hedging its bets against China with the hope that it doesn’t end up being collateral damage in the next big War?
Then again, it might not be all aspects of iPhones being made in India. It’s said that the Apple A18 series chipsets for the iPhone 16 family devices are being made by TSMC, which is from Taiwan. Some think that the prospect of these chipsets being produced in India might not be substantial, maybe even a decade away. TSMC is said to be a semiconductor giant, so what would India need to do to operate something of that magnitude? If not, does that mean stability is being emphasized a bit more than resilience?
Sure, this might be a boost to the Indian economy, but could this go beyond just iPhone assembly? Maybe, an assembly line in India won’t build India’s next unicorn or Indicorn – as Titan Capital coined it? What are aspects or elements that India is importing with regard to manufacturing that it could take up as its own mantle? Are there blind spots that might be serious gold opportunities?
So, will India be able to handle Apple’s iPhone needs? Or will its storage end up being full?
