US President Donald Trump has urged Apple to shift iPhone production out of India. He warned Apple CEO Tim Cook that continuing operations in India could lead to a 25% tariff on products.
Apple Moves Forward with Indian Expansion
Ignoring the pressure, Apple is expanding its operations in India. The company has signed a new deal with Tata Group for repair services of iPhones and MacBooks to strengthen its supply chain and reduce reliance on China.
Tata Becomes Key Repair and Assembly Partner
Tata has already been involved in iPhone assembly in Hosur, Tamil Nadu. Now, it will also manage repair services, further deepening its role in Apple’s supply chain, a sector previously dominated by Taiwanese players like Foxconn.
iPhone Production in India Surges
In the last financial year, iPhones worth $22 billion were produced at Tata’s Indian facility. This marks a 60% increase from the previous year, showing Apple’s commitment to manufacturing in India.
India’s Market Too Important to Ignore
India is the world’s second-largest smartphone market. According to Counterpoint Research, Apple sold 11 million iPhones in India last year, accounting for 7% of the total smartphone market. Given this scale, Apple is unlikely to retreat from the country.
