In a bid to diversify production beyond China, Apple will manufacture the Pro and Pro Max iPhone 16 models in India for the first time through its long-standing partner Foxconn, according to a new report.
Foxconn’s factory in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, will soon begin the ‘new product introduction’ (NPI) process for iPhone 16 pro models and will enter mass production once the phone is released, reports Moneycontrol, citing sources.
The tech giant began iPhone production in India in 2017 with the original iPhone SE. Since then, it has progressively increased its manufacturing activities in the country, assembling models such as the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14.
Production of these models in India began several months after they were launched globally. After the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus were released globally, India became a production and distribution centre for the company.
Over the next few years, the company reportedly plans to manufacture a quarter of its iPhones in India, up from 14 per cent at present. The government has been actively encouraging such investments, offering incentives to attract major manufacturers.
The company produced $14 billion worth of iPhones in India in FY24, accounting for 14 per cent of its global iPhone output, according to the Economic Survey 2023-2024, released in July.
Last week, it was reported that Apple is planning to manufacture the iPad in India for the first time. Similarly, it is rumoured that the business may begin producing AirPods in India later this year.
Meanwhile, Apple has dropped the prices of its pro iPhone models in India by 3 per cent to 4 per cent after the government decreased import duties on handsets to 15 per cent from 20 per cent.