Apple Expands India Footprint with AirPods Production in Hyderabad

Apple has started manufacturing AirPods at Foxconn’s new facility in Hyderabad for export, marking a key step in expanding its production footprint in India. Meanwhile, a major iPhone production plant in Bengaluru is set to begin operations soon. These developments are part of Apple’s broader strategy to scale up its India operations amid rising US-China trade tensions and steep tariffs on Chinese imports, which now exceed 100% in some cases.

The Bengaluru facility in Devanahalli, backed by a $2.8 billion (₹25,000 crore) investment, will be Foxconn’s second-largest factory outside China and is expected to produce up to 20 million iPhones annually. Trial production of the iPhone 17 series is already underway. Simultaneously, Tata Electronics has begun assembling older-generation iPhones and manufacturing components like casings at its newly launched plant in Hosur, with plans to gradually ramp up output.

Following its acquisition of Pegatron and Wistron’s local operations, Tata has emerged as Apple’s second-largest supplier in India. Apple aims to manufacture over 60 million iPhones annually in India by 2026—enough to meet all US demand. In March alone, Indian factories exported $2 billion worth of iPhones to the US, setting a new monthly record for both Foxconn and Tata.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.