Foxconn ramps up iPhone 17 production at India plant

• Foxconn fills critical technical gaps by bringing in experts from Taiwan and elsewhere after the unexpected departure of several Chinese engineers.
• For the year ended March 31, 2025, Apple assembled 60% more iPhones in India, representing a market value of about $22b.

Foxconn, the Taiwanese electronics behemoth and Apple’s principal manufacturing partner, has officially kicked off production of the iPhone 17 at its new, state-of-the-art facility in Bengaluru.

After months of anticipation and a massive investment of around $2.8 billion (approximately Rs25,000 crore), this development signals a new chapter for India’s role in Apple’s global supply chain.

The iPhone 17 series launch dates have been rumoured to be in early September, likely on September 9.

The Devanahalli-based unit now stands as Foxconn’s second-largest iPhone plant outside China, supplementing output from the company’s long-established Chennai factory. Both locations are currently humming with activity as they manufacture the latest iPhone 17 series.

The achievement echoes Foxconn’s recent momentum after last year’s local iPhone 16 production, which had also preceded the phone’s global and Indian debuts.

Sources familiar with internal operations suggest the Bengaluru plant has quickly rebounded from earlier hiccups, including the unexpected departure of several Chinese engineers. Foxconn’s ability to fill critical technical gaps by bringing in experts from Taiwan and elsewhere has been key to keeping production on track.

Apple’s bet on India

Apple is now doubling down on India as a manufacturing powerhouse. Projections estimate iPhone output will reach a staggering 60 million units this calendar year—significantly up from the 35–40 million units produced during 2024–25.

For the year ended March 31, 2025, Apple assembled 60 per cent more iPhones in India, representing a market value of about $22 billion.

Apple’s CEO Tim Cook has publicly recognised India’s rising profile. Following the company’s July 31 financial results, Cook highlighted that most iPhones sold in the US in June 2025 were made in India.

During the June quarter’s earnings call, he noted that all iPhones shipped to the US from India during that timeframe—a major shift in Apple’s supply chain dynamics.

Scaling production to meet demand

S&P Global’s data reveals that iPhone sales in the US reached 75.9 million units in 2024. With Indian exports of iPhones hitting 3.1 million units in March 2025 alone, Apple will need to dramatically ramp up capacity at its Indian facilities or reroute more devices intended for Indian consumers to international markets.

Meanwhile, Apple’s footprint in India’s burgeoning smartphone market continues to expand. During the first half of 2025, sales climbed 21.5 per cent year-on-year to 5.9 million units, led by the iPhone 16 as the best-selling model.

The June quarter further cemented Apple’s momentum, with YoY shipments soaring nearly 20 per cent, giving the brand a 7.5 per cent share of India’s smartphone market.

Despite these gains, Chinese OEMs continue to dominate the broader Indian market. IDC’s data places Vivo at the top with a 19 per cent share for the June quarter, underscoring the competitive landscape Apple faces.