New Delhi: Apple is significantly expanding iPhone manufacturing in India, with Foxconn and Tata Electronics ramping up production of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max ahead of the latest models’ global sales launch.
The development marks an important step in Apple’s evolving manufacturing strategy in India. For the first time, India-made Pro and Pro Max models are expected to reach international markets from the first day of sales, placing Indian production more directly into Apple’s global supply chain.
According to people familiar with the production plans cited by The Economic Times, manufacturing facilities operated by Foxconn and Tata Electronics are working around the clock, while chartered flights have been used to move devices from India to the US and other international markets.
Foxconn and Tata Electronics Accelerate Production
Two Indian manufacturing facilities — one operated by Foxconn and another by Tata Electronics — are currently producing the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models.
Production capacity could increase further depending on global demand, with the number of assembly lines potentially rising to nearly a dozen, according to the report.
The accelerated production schedule is closely linked to Apple’s strategy of ensuring sufficient inventory in major markets when the new iPhone models officially go on sale.
Several chartered flights have reportedly been arranged from India, particularly through Chennai, to transport the devices overseas.
A Major Shift for Apple’s Indian Manufacturing Strategy
The biggest change this year is not simply the volume of iPhones being assembled in India.
It is the type of devices being manufactured.
While Apple has increasingly used India to assemble iPhones for export, the Pro and Pro Max models represent Apple’s premium flagship segment.
In previous years, India-made iPhones reached international markets after varying delays. The latest production strategy brings Indian-made Pro models into global distribution from the beginning of the sales cycle.
Last year, India-made iPhone 17 models were available from the first day of sales, but the Pro and Pro Max variants followed later. The expansion into premium models indicates that India’s manufacturing capabilities are becoming more integrated into Apple’s global production network.
Most Indian-Made Pro iPhones Could Be Exported
India’s domestic market has a relatively smaller share of premium Pro and Pro Max models compared with Apple’s broader iPhone portfolio.
Industry estimates cited by The Economic Times suggest that around 80% to 90% of the Pro-series production in India could be exported.
The United States is expected to remain a major destination.
This means the production increase could have a direct impact on India’s electronics export numbers, particularly during the September quarter.
India’s position as an export base for Apple has expanded rapidly in recent years. Government data cited in the report shows that Apple’s iPhone exports from India to the US increased from around $7 billion in 2024 to $19.2 billion in 2025.
Tata Electronics Emerges as a Major Apple Manufacturing Partner
Tata Electronics has rapidly increased its presence in Apple’s manufacturing ecosystem.
The company entered iPhone assembly after acquiring Wistron’s Indian operations and subsequently expanded its electronics manufacturing capabilities.
Data reported by Business Standard showed that Tata Electronics assembled iPhones worth approximately $26.3 billion for export during the five-year PLI period from FY2022 to FY2026, compared with around $25.6 billion for Foxconn during the same period.
However, Foxconn continues to have a larger overall production footprint in India, particularly because of its domestic-market production.
The growing role of Tata Electronics therefore represents a broader change in India’s electronics manufacturing landscape, where domestic companies are increasingly participating alongside global contract manufacturers.
India Becomes More Important to Apple’s Global Supply Chain
Apple has been steadily expanding its manufacturing footprint outside China.
India has become one of the key locations in that diversification strategy, supported by government production-linked incentives, a growing electronics manufacturing ecosystem and increasing export capacity.
The growth has already transformed India’s smartphone export profile. Smartphones have become one of the country’s most important electronics export categories, while Apple has emerged as a major contributor to the increase.
The latest iPhone 18 Pro production push indicates that India’s role is moving beyond manufacturing lower-volume or previous-generation models for selected markets.
Why the US Market Matters
The US has become a particularly important destination for India-made iPhones.
Apple’s increasing reliance on Indian manufacturing for the American market has been influenced by the company’s broader effort to diversify production and manage trade-related risks.
India exported approximately $19.2 billion worth of iPhones to the US in 2025, according to government data cited by The Economic Times.
The scale of these exports demonstrates how quickly India has become connected to Apple’s global supply chain.
The shift also has implications for India’s electronics export ambitions, as higher-value smartphones contribute significantly to export growth.
What It Means for India’s Electronics Industry
The production of premium iPhone models in India could have wider implications for the country’s electronics manufacturing ecosystem.
Large-scale smartphone production creates demand across logistics, packaging, components, testing, warehousing and other supporting industries.
However, a major challenge remains increasing the amount of components manufactured domestically.
India’s electronics industry has been moving toward greater local value addition, with government programmes increasingly focused on developing domestic component manufacturing rather than relying primarily on final assembly.
