In a strategic move to diversify its supply chain, Apple has started iPhone production at a new Tata Electronics plant in Hosur India's Tamil Nadu state, and is preparing to begin shipments from a Foxconn facility near Bengaluru city in Karnataka state by May.
The expansion marks Apple’s latest effort to reduce reliance on China as escalating trade tensions and tariffs under US President Donald Trump pose risks to global supply chains.
According to sources cited by Reuters, the Tata Electronics plant began operations in recent days, producing older iPhone models on a single assembly line.
Meanwhile, Foxconn’s $2.6 billion facility, still under construction, is expected to start production shortly, focusing on iPhone 16 and iPhone 16e models.
The plant will initially operate one assembly line with a capacity of 300–500 units per hour and is projected to employ 50,000 workers when fully operational by December 2027.
India currently accounts for around 18% of global iPhone production, with China contributing over 75%.
However, Apple plans to shift the majority of iPhone production for the US market to India by the end of 2026, targeting over 60 million units annually.
In March alone, Apple shipped $2 billion worth of iPhones from India to the US including $1.3 billion from Foxconn.
The expansion highlights India’s growing role in Apple’s global manufacturing strategy and positions the country as a key hub for future iPhone production.
The move also strengthens Tata’s role as a rising Apple supplier, as both Tata and Foxconn now operate a total of five iPhone manufacturing plants in India.
Apple’s shift underscores its urgency to navigate geopolitical risks while maintaining production scale and cost efficiency.
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