Apple’s long-term strategy to reduce its reliance on China for manufacturing is finally coming to fruition.
According to recent reports, the upcoming iPhone 17 series will be produced in India right from the start, marking a major shift in the company’s global supply chain. Production has already begun ahead of the smartphone’s expected unveiling in early September.
For the first time, iPhones sold in the United States will be sourced directly from India. This move is designed to help Apple bypass new US government tariffs on Chinese-made products. To achieve this, Apple has expanded its iPhone production capacity in India, now spread across five factories. Two of these facilities, operated by Tata Group and Foxconn, were recently launched. Tata Group’s share of iPhone production in India is expected to reach nearly 50%, underlining the company’s growing importance in Apple’s supply chain.
This marks a historic milestone, as all new iPhone 17 models will ship to the US market directly from India. The growth of Apple’s Indian manufacturing operations has already been significant—iPhone exports from India surged to $7.5 billion between April and July 2025. Analysts suggest this is just the beginning, with further expansion planned in the coming years.
Looking ahead, Apple will also manufacture the iPhone 17e in India for the US market starting in early 2026. This is a continuation of a journey that began in 2017, when Apple assembled its first iPhone SE in India. The company further expanded its local production in 2021, and since then, India has steadily become a crucial hub for Apple’s global operations.
The decision reflects both business and geopolitical considerations. As trade tensions and tariffs affect US-China relations, shifting production to India gives Apple a stronger foothold in one of the world’s fastest-growing smartphone markets. Additionally, this move is expected to create more jobs in India while strengthening the country’s position as a key technology manufacturing hub.
With the iPhone 17 launch just weeks away, Apple’s manufacturing shift signals a new era for the brand, one where India plays a central role in its global strategy.