Apple began manufacturing iPhones in India in 2017, starting with the iPhone SE. Since then, Apple has manufactured the iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 15 in India. But Apple has never manufactured Pro variants in the country. That is now set to change. For the first time in history, Apple will begin manufacturing Pro models in India, starting with the iPhone 16 Pro that is set to launch next month, according to a report by Bloomberg. This isn’t the first time that this has been reported. Last month, another report suggested that Apple is planning to start manufacturing the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max models in India.
Apple has steadily expanded its manufacturing operations in India, initially focusing on entry-level and older iPhone models. In 2021–2022, the company began assembling iPhone 14 models in the country. By 2023, India-produced iPhone 15 units were available on the first day of global sales. Production initially included only base models, but Pegatron later managed the local manufacturing of the iPhone 15 Plus. Apple aims to increase India’s share of its global production, targeting 25 per cent of all iPhone production in the country within the next 3 to 4 years.
Foxconn Technology Group, a key partner for Apple, is gearing up to assemble the new iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models within weeks of their global launch this fall, as per the latest report. The report also suggests that Foxconn has already started training thousands of workers at its facility in Tamil Nadu, aiming to synchronise local production with worldwide release. The company is moving quickly to ensure that these flagship devices are ready as close to the global debut as possible, though these details remain confidential.
Meanwhile, there was a separate report earlier this year by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo which suggested that the standard iPhone 17 will be developed and manufactured exclusively in India, beginning in the latter half of 2024, with its release expected in 2025. Kuo also suggests that Tata Electronics will work in collaboration with Foxconn and Pegatron to manufacture iPhone 17 smartphones in India. This marks a significant shift as it would be the first iPhone to start its production outside of China. The iPhone 17 series is anticipated to launch in Fall 2025. In November 2023, Tata Electronics acquired Wistron’s Indian assembly units for $125 million.