In a first for its India operations, Apple reportedly will assemble all four iPhone 17 models in the country before their September debut.
Typically, Apple starts assembling new iPhone models in India weeks after their global launch.
Apple will expand its retail footprint in India and open new stores in the country this year. It will also open its fifth retail store in the United Arab Emirates before the end of 2025.
The company recently launched its online store in Saudi Arabia, marking a major expansion of its presence in the Middle East.
In a major supply chain shift, Apple plans to move the production of all iPhones sold in the United States to India by the end of 2026. This move should allow the company to avoid the extra tariffs the U.S. government imposed on China amid escalating trade tensions.
Apple will soon manufacture AirPods in India for export purposes. The move comes amidst the company’s push to grow its manufacturing presence in the country.
Apple already makes iPhones in India to meet local demand and export to other markets.
Apple could further expand its iPhone manufacturing efforts in India over the next two years. This shift would likely occur if newly-elected US President Donald Trump implements heavy tariffs on Chinese imports.
India is already the second major iPhone production hub for Apple outside China.
Apple is now assembling iPhone 16 Pro units in India, giving its local manufacturing efforts a huge boost.
It also plans to open four new Apple Stores in India to expand its presence further.
Apple’s iPhone production in India hit a major hurdle following a fire at a Tata Electronics plant. The fire, which occurred over the weekend, will seemingly have a 10-15% impact on the production of older iPhone models in the country.
More importantly, Apple will fall back on its suppliers in China to meet the component shortage.
A Tata Electronics plant in Chennai, India, that makes components for iPhones reportedly caught fire on Saturday, halting production.
It’s not clear yet how this will affect iPhone assembly in the country. It’s certainly not good news for Apple’s efforts to become less dependent on China.
Apple could have another bump year in India, with its revenue reaching nearly $10 billion. iPhones will account for most of this, with projected sales of around $8.2 billion.
Revenue from non-iPhone devices should also set a new record this year.
Apple will reportedly start assembling iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max units in India later this year. So far, the company has only assembled non-Pro iPhones in the country.
This move would be a big step in Apple’s increased manufacturing presence in India. It would also help further diversify the company’s supply chain away from China.
Apple’s revenue in India hit an all-time high of nearly $8 billion in the last fiscal year. The company reported a 33% jump in revenues, up from $6 billion a year ago.
iPhones led the growth, accounting for over half of all Apple devices sold in India.
Everyone knows iPhone is made in China, right? Well, yes and no. A new report indicates that as many as 14% of Apple handsets are actually produced in India.
It’s part of Apple’s plan to diversify where its products are assembled to reduce its dependence on China.
Apple is offering 50% off the AirPods in India when you purchase an iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Plus. The company is providing this discount amid the country’s festive season and ahead of Diwali.
Additionally, new users will get a free Apple Music subscription for six months.
India surpassed France and Germany to become the fifth-largest iPhone market for Apple in Q2 2023. This is the first time India has become one of Apple’s top five iPhone markets.
The Asian country has emerged as a key market for Apple in recent years. It now trails China, the US, Japan and the U.K. in iPhone sales.
Apple is reportedly in talks with HDFC Bank to bring Apple Card to India. The latter is among the country’s largest credit card issuers and private banks.
The Cupertino giant also held discussions with NPCI to launch Apple Pay in the country.
Refurbished iPhones are “selling like hot cakes” in India. This is despite Apple not officially selling pre-owned iPhones in the country.
iPhones already dominate the premium smartphone market in India. However, its share in the secondary market is 2x higher.
A government minister is “confident” that Apple will double or even triple the amount of money it has invested in India in the coming years. It’s expanding iPhone assembly in the subcontinent, and production of other devices there is expected to begin soon.
The comments come a day after Apple CEO Tim Cook met with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Apple CEO Tim Cook met with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. It’s part of a busy agenda for the executive, including opening two Apple stores — the first in the subcontinent. But that’s just a small part of his activities as the executive traveled around to highlight how Apple products are being used in India.
Cook posted tweets from all the many events and meetings.
Apple’s first retail store in India opened its doors to shoppers Tuesday, and CEO Tim Cook showed up to celebrate. Apple BKC — housed in an energy-efficient structure with some stunning architectural details — is located inside Jio World Drive, a huge shopping complex in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
The Indian store opening marks an important milestone for Apple, as it seeks to expand its retail and manufacturing presence in the world’s most populous country.
Apple is making more iPhones in India than ever before. The Cupertino giant assembled 7% of the total iPhones it manufactured last fiscal year in the country.
The company is looking to make India the next iPhone manufacturing hub after China to diversify its supply chain.
After years of delay, Apple’s first retail store will reportedly open in India next month. The 22,000 sq. ft. store is located inside the Jio World Drive mall in Mumbai.
Apple started hiring for its retail store in India at the beginning of this year.
Foxconn will soon start making AirPods for Apple. For this, the Taiwanese company will spend upwards of $200 million to build a factory in India.
Foxconn has never assembled AirPods for Apple despite being its biggest contract manufacturer. This will change once its new factory in India is ready.
Apple is making internal management changes to further focus on India. And for the first time ever, the company will make India its own sales region, highlighting its growing importance.
The South Asian country is already emerging as a major alternative to China for manufacturing its products.
After recent problems in China, Apple is ramping up iPhone assembly in India. The number of iOS handsets assembled in that country will reportedly triple in the coming years.
Previous reports have also indicated that Apple is putting a much greater emphasis on making iPhones in India.
Apple is asking its suppliers to move production of AirPods and Beats from China to India. This is the first time the company is looking to manufacture its wireless earbuds in the South Asian country.
The Cupertino giant has been heavily diversifying its supply chain recently and reducing its reliance on China. The company had already moved a portion of AirPods production from China to Vietnam in 2019. If you’re an airpods mac user, this shift in production could mean faster availability and better supply in new markets.