Apple strengthens iPhone manufacturing in India with new machinery investments
**Apple Strengthens iPhone Manufacturing in India with New Machinery Investments**
*By Mudit Dube | Sep 24, 2025, 01:51 PM*
Apple is rapidly expanding its supply chain footprint in India, focusing not only on sourcing components for iPhones but also on manufacturing the machinery required to produce these devices locally. According to Moneycontrol, approximately 35 companies are currently involved in producing this specialized machinery within India. Remarkably, nearly half of these firms have initiated direct collaborations with Apple over the past two years.
**Boosting Localization Efforts**
Apple is intensifying efforts to increase the local content in its India-manufactured iPhones, aiming to reach production levels comparable to those in China within the next two to three years. Prominent companies such as Titan Engineering and Automation Ltd (TEAL), Jyoti CNC Automation, Bharat Forge, and Wipro are already supplying capital equipment to Apple. Alongside these major players, smaller non-Chinese firms that have established operations in India are also contributing significantly to this localization drive.
**Expanding the Partner Network**
Over the coming years, Apple plans to substantially broaden its network of partners in India. This expansion is designed to reduce logistical risks, lower operational costs, and create a more resilient and agile supply chain. A key part of this strategy involves localizing the manufacturing of various machines utilized after the surface mount technology (SMT) line production stage— a critical process that involves mounting electronic components directly onto printed circuit boards.
**Miniaturizing Capital Equipment**
Apple’s Indian partners are actively working to miniaturize capital equipment used in electronics manufacturing, particularly for smartphones. These advancements incorporate Apple’s intellectual property and proprietary know-how. This push becomes particularly significant amid China’s restrictions on exporting certain manufacturing equipment to India, affecting Apple suppliers such as Foxconn, Tata Electronics, and Jabil.
Despite rapid progress, India still relies heavily on Chinese machinery that often requires on-site support from Chinese technicians. Addressing this dependency remains a priority for Apple and its partners.
**Joint Ventures for Critical Component Production**
To further bolster manufacturing capabilities, Apple is exploring joint ventures with companies from China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. These collaborations aim to enable local production of critical smartphone components, including displays and camera modules.
Currently, around 35 to 40 companies supply components to Apple’s India operations, including smaller assembly firms. Notable suppliers include Flex Limited, Foxlink, Jabil Incorporated, Molex Incorporated, Shenzhen YUTO Packaging Technology, Tata Electronics, Motherson Group, 3M, Shenzhen Everwin Precision Technology, and Taiwan Surface Mounting Technology Corporation.
**Enhancing Domestic Value Addition**
Apple’s vendors in India have already surpassed 20% domestic value addition. However, the Indian government is actively encouraging them, along with the broader electronics industry, to elevate this to 30-40% to align with China’s current levels. Presently, India’s domestic value addition is primarily concentrated in self-assembly items such as batteries, cells, chargers, mechanical components, packaging, boxes, and cables.
With these strategic investments and partnerships, Apple is positioning India as a major production hub, aiming to create a more self-reliant and robust manufacturing ecosystem for its flagship products.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/business/apple-boosts-iphone-production-in-india-amid-china-tensions/story
