Apple to Manufacture All iPhone 17 Models in India for First Time

• Apple to produce all iPhone 17 models in India, a first for the company.
• Tata Group and Foxconn lead iPhone production across five Indian factories.
• India’s iPhone exports to the U.S. surged to 36% in 2025.

In a significant boost to India’s manufacturing sector, Apple is set to produce all four models of its upcoming iPhone 17 in India for the first time. This marks a historic shift, as Apple aims to diversify its supply chain away from China amid the Trump administration’s unpredictable tariff policies. The move underscores India’s growing role as a global manufacturing hub for high-tech products.

Apple’s production will span five factories in India, including newly operational facilities like Tata Group’s plant in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, and Foxconn’s unit near Bengaluru airport. These join existing facilities to produce the iPhone 17, set for launch in 2025. Tata Group, the only Indian company assembling iPhones, is emerging as a key Apple partner, having acquired Wistron Corp’s Karnataka plant in 2023 and a controlling stake in Pegatron’s Chennai facility. Tata is expected to account for nearly half of India’s iPhone output in the next two years.

Also Read:  PFC, JBIC Sign Rs 3,500 Cr Loan Deal for India's Clean Energy

The value of iPhone exports from India has surged, with India’s share in U.S. smartphone imports rising to 36% in the first five months of 2025, up from 11% in 2024. Foxconn alone exported iPhones worth $4.4 billion to the U.S. during this period. Meanwhile, China’s dominance in U.S. smartphone imports dropped from 82% to 49%.

Despite U.S. tariffs on India, including a recent 50% levy partly tied to India’s Russian oil purchases, iPhones have been exempted. Apple’s CEO Tim Cook recently pledged $100 billion to expand U.S. manufacturing, but the company’s growing investment in India signals a strategic pivot to mitigate tariff risks and leverage India’s manufacturing capabilities.