Apple’s biggest production facility in India, run by Foxconn, has begun full-scale operations, manufacturing the iPhone 17. Located in Bengaluru, the plant currently employs 25,000 workers and is designed to eventually accommodate up to 100,000, highlighting India’s growing role as a key Apple manufacturing hub.
Factory Details and Workforce
Spanning nearly 300 acres, the factory started test production in April. About 90% of the workforce comprises young women trained over the last four months to handle the latest iPhone models. The facility surpasses the capacities of other Apple suppliers in India, including Tata Electronics, Wistron, and Pegatron.
India’s Growing Role in iPhone Production
India now produces nearly half of all iPhones sold in the US, with locally made iPhones available globally on day one of launch. This marks a shift from previous years when Chinese factories fulfilled initial demand, with Indian units supplied later. Experts say this expansion reflects Apple’s broader strategy to diversify supply chains away from China.
Workforce and Industry Context
India currently has around 200,000 operational factories employing 19 million people. While the average factory staff is 95, a handful of large factories like Foxconn’s Bengaluru plant hire tens of thousands. Foxconn’s Sriperumbudur facility near Chennai, for example, employs 40,000 workers.
Worker Amenities
The Bengaluru plant features hostels for female workers, accommodating tens of thousands and effectively functioning as a mini city.
Production Across Multiple Sites
In addition to Bengaluru, the iPhone 17 will be produced at other Indian Apple supplier facilities, including Tata Electronics units in Narsapura and Hosur, Foxconn’s Sriperumbudur factory, and the Tata-Pegatron facility in Tamil Nadu. These factories are now fully prepared to launch all new iPhone models simultaneously for both domestic and global markets.
Simultaneous Global Launch
For the first time, Apple will roll out all iPhone 17 models, including Pro and Pro Max, from Indian factories at the same time as the global launch, eliminating previous delays in availability for India-made units.
