Tata and Foxconn Begin iPhone Production in India as Apple Shifts Manufacturing Amid Trump Tariffs

Apple has started making iPhones in India at a new Tata Electronics factory in Hosur, Tamil Nadu. Another major plant by Foxconn near Bengaluru is also set to begin operations soon. According to a report by The Hindu, this move is part of Apple’s plan to shift more iPhone manufacturing from China to India due to rising U.S.-China trade tensions and new tariffs introduced by President Donald Trump.

Apple’s Growing Presence in India

Tata Electronics has started assembling older iPhone models at its new factory in Tamil Nadu on a single production line. Shipments from this plant are expected to begin soon. This marks Tata’s entry as a major manufacturing partner for Apple in India, following its acquisition of Wistron’s iPhone assembly unit last year.

A second facility, owned by Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn, is also preparing to begin iPhone production. Located in Devanahalli near Bengaluru, Karnataka, the Foxconn plant has received an investment of $2.8 billion. This factory will be Foxconn’s second-largest unit outside China and will play a key role in Apple’s production expansion in India.

Sources say that the factory will soon begin shipping iPhones and can produce 300–500 units per hour. The facility will likely manufacture the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16e models. Trial production for the upcoming iPhone 17 series has also begun, both at this facility and at Tata’s plant, where casing components are being developed.

In addition to iPhones, Foxconn has also started producing Apple AirPods at a plant in Hyderabad, Telangana. “Yes, Apple AirPods production at Foxconn’s new Hyderabad facility has started for export purposes. The new Bengaluru facility will also soon start operations for iPhone production and will play a key role in ramping up exports from India,” said a person familiar with the matter.

Apple Shifts Focus from China to India

The changing U.S.-China trade relations create a primary motivation for Apple to move its strategic direction. President Trump has enforced maximum tariff rates of 145% on various products exported from China. The electronics industry remains untouched by trade tariffs. Yet, companies worry about proposed duties on technical products like smartphones. To prepare for this, Apple is accelerating its plans to move manufacturing out of China.

China currently makes about 75% of all iPhones in the world. In comparison, India contributed around 18–20% of global iPhone production in 2024. Apple now wants to increase this share significantly. According to analysts and sources, the company is planning to shift the production of over 60 million iPhones annually to India by the end of 2026. This would cover all iPhones sold in the U.S.

Apple achieved a monthly shipment record in March 2025 when it exported $2 billion worth of iPhones from India to the United States. The production segment, worth $1.3 billion, was led by Foxconn, yet Tata Motors plans to boost its stake during the next months as production volumes grow.

Navkendar Singh, Associate Vice President at IDC India, said, “These are logical and necessary steps to scale up production in India with a medium-term goal of reducing dependency on China, especially given the high tariffs on Chinese products going into the U.S.”

He added that India has already proven itself as a capable and reliable partner for electronics manufacturing. It is easier to expand existing plants in India than to build completely new facilities elsewhere.

Apple finds India to be the perfect hub because the country has a strong and growing electronics industry. The government also supports manufacturing through PLI schemes, and there is a large pool of skilled workers.