Apple’s iPhone 16 series, produced in India, is set to become available worldwide within a few days of its sales launch, according to The Economic Times. This is a significant milestone, as it’s the first time a globally released product made in India will be distributed internationally so quickly, highlighting the growth of India’s manufacturing sector and the Make-in-India initiative.
Apple will unveil the iPhone 16 series on Monday, with global sales expected to start 10 to 12 days later. Foxconn, a major Apple supplier, has already started producing the series in India.
For the first time, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max models will also be shipped from Indian factories to international markets. The iPhone 16 is anticipated to be one of Apple’s most advanced devices, featuring new artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities.
This move to India as a major production hub is part of Apple’s strategy to diversify its manufacturing, especially amid rising geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China, the report added.
India’s Role in Global iPhone Production
In 2021, iPhone 13 models manufactured in India were available globally several months after their release. By 2022, this lag was shortened to less than two weeks for the iPhone 14. Last year, Apple managed to produce the iPhone 15 simultaneously in both India and China, although the Indian-made devices were only available locally on the first day of sales.
According to the latest Economic Survey, India now accounts for about 14% of Apple’s total global production, a significant increase from 7% last year. Apple plans to shift 25% of its iPhone production to India by 2025 to lessen its reliance on China, the report noted.
Currently, iPhones are manufactured exclusively in India and China. However, Apple has been working to minimize the gap between the global launch of new iPhone models and their availability in India.
iPhones worth Rs 1.20 trn manufactured in India in FY24
During the financial year ending March 31, 2024, Apple’s contract manufacturers—Foxconn Hon Hai, Pegatron, and Wistron (now owned by Tata Group)—produced iPhones in India worth ₹1.20 trillion, with exports valued at ₹85,000 crore. These figures reflect the value of the devices when they leave the factory (freight on board value), with retail prices typically about 60% higher.
This year, Apple’s iPhone 16 series, manufactured in India, will be available in various countries within days of its retail launch on September 10.
Apple remains a leader in mobile phone exports from India and is a key participant in the Indian government’s production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for smartphones, which aims to boost local manufacturing and increase exports.