For the first time, Apple is manufacturing all four iPhone 17 models in India, according to Bloomberg. The move comes just weeks before the September launch and is widely seen as an effort to soften the blow of President Donald Trump’s tariffs on goods produced in China.
Production is spread across five Indian factories. Tata Group is handling half the output in Tamil Nadu, while Foxconn is managing assembly near Bangalore airport. Apple did not respond to requests for comment on the report.
A watershed moment for Apple manufacturing
Analysts describe this as a pivotal step in Apple’s supply chain strategy. Sanyam Chaurasia of Omdia called it “a watershed moment,” noting that while China remains vital for flagship innovation and base models, India is emerging as Apple’s most important alternative.
India’s role in Apple’s operations has grown rapidly. In Q2 2025, iPhone production in the country surged 63%, reaching $7.5 billion in exports. Early this year, CEO Tim Cook confirmed plans to move nearly all assembly of US-bound iPhones to India to sidestep tariff penalties.
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Why Apple is making iPhone 17 models in India
The decision reflects both political and economic pressure. With the US imposing steep tariffs on Chinese-made electronics, India offers Apple a way to keep costs down without scaling back production.
At the same time, India has become the top smartphone exporter to the US, giving Apple a strong foothold in one of the world’s fastest-growing tech manufacturing hubs. Chaurasia estimates that US-bound iPhones made in India rose 27% between the first half of 2024 and the first half of 2025.
China remains critical to Apple’s plans
Despite the shift, Apple is not walking away from China. Most iPhones destined for non-US markets will still come from Chinese factories. Chaurasia says Apple is “de-risking by building parallel supply chains,” rather than abandoning its longtime partners.
Still, the trend is clear: India is no longer just a secondary player making older models. With iPhone 17, it is now central to Apple’s flagship launches.
Apple iPhone 17 launch nears
Apple will unveil the iPhone 17 lineup in September, possibly marking the last of its traditional late-summer launches. Reports suggest the company plans to move to a two-phase rollout strategy starting in 2026.
If the reports hold, the iPhone 17 will be remembered not just for its hardware updates, but for the moment Apple’s global supply chain pivoted in earnest.
