Apple now makes 1 in 4 iPhones in India; 53% output jump

Apple assembled roughly 55 million iPhones in India in 2025, a 53 percent increase from about 36 million units a year earlier, according to a Bloomberg report citing people familiar with the matter. The surge means India now accounts for about a quarter of Apple's total global iPhone production, estimated at 220 million to 230 million units annually.

The rapid scale-up reflects Apple's accelerating effort to reduce its dependence on China, where US tariffs tied to the ongoing trade war have created headwinds for shipments. India's rise as a manufacturing hub has been bolstered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's production-linked incentive program, which has helped offset higher costs stemming from weaker local supply chains and logistics challenges compared with China.

From One in Five to One in Four

The milestone marks a sharp trajectory. As recently as early 2025, Apple was producing about 20 percent of iPhones in the country. CEO Tim Cook said during Apple's earnings call in May 2025 that the majority of iPhones sold in the United States during the June quarter would originate from India.

By mid-2025, exports from India had surged 53 percent year-on-year in the first half, reaching 23.9 million units, with the United States absorbing 78 percent of those shipments, according to Canalys data.

Apple now assembles all versions of the iPhone 17 lineup in India, including the high-end Pro and Pro Max models, through suppliers Foxconn Technology Group, Tata Electronics, and Pegatron. Older models such as the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 continue to be built locally for domestic sales and export.
What Comes Next

The company's ambitions extend well beyond current output. Apple aims to produce all US-bound iPhones in India by late 2026, which would require annual production to reach 70 to 80 million units. Apple is also in early talks with Indian manufacturers to assemble and package iPhone chips locally.

India's current PLI subsidies for smartphones are set to expire on March 31, and Apple, along with Samsung, is in discussions with New Delhi over a new round of incentives to sustain export growth.

Beyond manufacturing, Apple is preparing to launch Apple Pay in India later this year and has expanded its retail presence to six stores, with sales in the country surpassing $9 billion.

Also Read: Is Apple finally launching a foldable iPhone? CAD renders reveal iPhone Fold design