With the anticipated September launch of the Apple iPhone 17 Series, increasing details about the upcoming devices are surfacing. A new report indicates that all models in the series will be produced in India. Production will occur across five local factories, with two factories having just begun operations.
For the first time, all new iPhone models, including the premium Pro variants, will be manufactured in India. This is a strategic decision by Apple to reduce its reliance on China for shipments to the US and to protect against potential tariff implications. Apple has already transferred a significant amount of its iPhone production for the American market from China to India.
Export Boom
The Tata Group’s plant in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, and Foxconn’s hub near the Bengaluru airport are at the center of this expansion. According to individuals familiar with the matter, Tata has handled nearly half of India’s iPhone production within two years. This has resulted in a substantial rise in India’s export numbers. From April to July of this year, India exported $7.5 billion worth of iPhones, in comparison to the $17 billion exported during the prior full fiscal year.
Amidst the context of the Trump administration’s move to implement high tariffs on Chinese products, Apple is dealing with a shaky trade climate within the US. Even though iPhones have generally avoided broad tariffs, former US President Donald Trump asserted that if Apple wants to manufacture iPhones for the American market, it should do so in the US, and not in China or India.