iPhone 17 Production Begins in India: Foxconn Starts Manufacturing at Bengaluru Plant

Foxconn, the company that manufactures iPhones for Apple, has started production of the iPhone 17 in India, according to a report by The Economic Times. The new unit in Bengaluru has begun operations, making it Foxconn’s second-largest production site outside China with an investment of around ₹25,000 crore.

Earlier, the sudden recall of over 300 engineers and technicians by China had disrupted iPhone 17 production in India. To address this gap, Foxconn has brought in experts from Taiwan and other countries. Currently, production has resumed on a smaller scale in India.

Chinese Engineers Played a Key Role in India’s Assembly Line

Foxconn’s high-tech assembly line, factory design, and worker training in India were being handled by Chinese engineers. To support this, the Indian government had also provided visa facilities for these engineers to ensure smooth operations without production delays.

India Overtakes China in iPhone Exports to the U.S.

India has surpassed China to become the largest exporter of smartphones to the U.S. This marks a major shift in the global supply chain as companies diversify away from China amid tariff wars.

According to research firm Canalys, between April and June this year, 44% of U.S. smartphone imports were “Made in India”, compared to just 13% during the same period last year. Meanwhile, China’s share dropped sharply from 61% to 25% in the June quarter.

India Emerging as a Global iPhone Manufacturing Hub

By June 2025, India had produced 23.9 million (2.39 crore) iPhones, a 53% increase compared to last year. Notably, 78% of iPhones sold in the U.S. are now made in India.

According to CyberMedia Research, iPhone exports from India have also surged to 22.88 million (2.28 crore) units between January and June 2025, up from 15.05 million (1.50 crore) units during the same period last year — marking a 52% year-on-year growth.