Taiwan-based electronics giant Foxconn has officially started small-scale production of Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 at its new Bengaluru facility.
This marks another big step for India in becoming a key player in global smartphone manufacturing. Foxconn is already producing the iPhone 17 at its Chennai unit, according to a PTI report.
Foxconn’s Major Investment in India
Foxconn, Apple’s top iPhone assembler, has invested close to ₹25,000 crore to build the Bengaluru factory, making it the second-largest Foxconn plant outside China.
The unit faced early challenges when Chinese engineers returned home, but those roles were quickly filled by experts from Taiwan and other countries.
Apple’s Production Plans Get Bigger
Apple plans to ramp up iPhone production to 60 million units in 2025, a significant increase from the 35–40 million units expected in 2024–25.
The new Bengaluru plant will play a key role in meeting this growing demand. Apple CEO Tim Cook recently confirmed that, as of June 2025, most iPhones sold in the U.S. were assembled in India.
India’s Growing Share in Apple’s Supply Chain
In FY 2024–25, Apple assembled 60% more iPhones in India compared to the previous year, with a total production value of about $22 billion.
Just in March, 3.1 million units were exported. Meanwhile, domestic sales also rose by 21.5%, reaching 5.9 million units in the first half of 2025, mainly driven by the iPhone 16.
A Tough Smartphone Market
Even with Apple’s growth, India’s smartphone market remains very competitive. Data from IDC for April–June 2025 shows Vivo leading the market with a 19% share.
Still, Apple’s rising focus on India for both assembly and exports makes the country a key part of its global supply chain.
What’s Next for Apple and India?
With the Bengaluru factory now operational, India is expected to become an even stronger partner in Apple’s worldwide operations.
Experts believe that to meet the higher shipment goals, Apple may either expand production capacity or shift more units to the U.S. market.
The success of the Bengaluru unit could be crucial in reaching those targets.
