Foxconn, one of Apple’s most critical manufacturing partners in its supply chain, has begun shipping iPhone 17 parts from China to India. This logistical activity, which began in June, marks the achievement of a critical milestone in the production process ahead of the device’s expected September launch.
Trial production begins in India! Launch scheduled for September 2025
According to customs data reviewed by The Economic Times, key components such as display panels, front glass, mechanical housings, and integrated rear camera modules have been shipped to Foxconn’s facilities in India. These parts account for approximately 10% of Foxconn’s total imports from China to India. The remainder is used for the production of previous models such as the iPhone 14 and iPhone 16.
Industry experts say the quantity of parts arriving indicates the early stages of trial production. Mass production is scheduled to begin in August, ensuring the supply pipeline is ready for the September launch.
Apple previously included India in its New Product Introduction (NPI) process, which was conducted exclusively in China. India was integrated into this process in 2024 for the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, thus commencing production of the new models almost simultaneously with China. During the iPhone 14 era, production in India began six weeks after the start in China. This difference is being addressed in the new production plans.
For the iPhone 17, Apple aims to start production in China and India on the same day. According to information reported by DigiTimes, Apple continues to expand its production capacity in India to diversify its supply chain. This expansion is being carried out in coordination with Foxconn under the Indian government’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) program.
However, the production process has faced some challenges. It has been reported that a large number of Chinese engineers have recently left Foxconn’s facilities in India. These engineers play a vital role in processes such as factory design, precision machining, and employee training.
Speaking to The Economic Times, an executive stated that iPhone 17 production requires the assembly of many small parts with micron-level precision, and that the lack of expert Chinese engineers in this field could pose a risk to quality controls.
Despite these developments, the Indian government remains confident that its production schedule will remain stable. According to sources at the Press Trust of India (PTI), the return of Chinese personnel will not negatively impact the iPhone 17 production process. The same source stated that Apple continues to scale up production as planned, and that the bottlenecks faced in importing the machinery and equipment needed for mass production have largely been overcome.
