This year, Apple is going to manufacture its priciest iPhone Pro and Pro Max models in India for the first time, which is a huge step forward for the tech company and the country's manufacturing industry.

Only a few weeks after its worldwide release, Foxconn Technology Group, a key Apple partner, will start building the new iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max devices in India, according to a report from Bloomberg that cited people with knowledge of the situation. According to reports, the business has started training thousands of workers at its Tamil Nadu facility in order to produce these flagship models in time for their global launch.

iPhone Pro and Pro Max
Image Source: Her Zindgi

India's Significance in Apple's Expansion Plans

In terms of Apple's aspirations to expand its manufacturing base outside China, where the bulk of its iPhones are still made, this development represents a significant step forward. This change coincides with growing hostilities between Beijing and Washington, which has forced Apple to look at alternate production locations.

With the financial incentives that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has introduced to entice luxury manufacturing to the nation, Ind has become a key point in this approach. Up to 14% of Apple's total global output, or $14 billion worth of iPhones, were built in India during the fiscal year that ended in March 2024.

According to Bloomberg, the India-made standard iPhone 16 is scheduled to be released on the same day as the worldwide release. Apart from Foxconn, it is anticipated that Pegatron Corp. and the Tata Group, two more Apple partners in India, would begin producing the Pro models soon. Higher-end versions need more trained production methods because of their bigger batteries, better cameras, and titanium bodies.

You might also be interested in - Apple’s AI push aims to reignite iPhone sales growth after mixed Q3 results