Apple is preparing for concurrent manufacturing of the iPhone 17 in both China and India, despite efforts by the Chinese government to hinder this project. Attaining day one assembly in India has been a longstanding objective for Apple, focused on diminishing its reliance on China as a production center.
At present, the majority of iPhones are manufactured in China, but Apple has been striving to boost production in alternative locations, with India serving as the secondary manufacturing site. The firm aims to reach 50% of iPhone production in India in the coming years. A key goal would be to produce the latest iPhone series on the same day in both nations, a target Apple could not achieve with the iPhone 16 due to delays in Indian manufacturing.
Foxconn, Apple’s primary assembly partner, is gearing up for this concurrent production by sending components to India for preliminary production. This stage includes assembling small quantities of iPhones on actual production lines to verify proper operation. Preliminary production usually takes place around two months before the launch, with large-scale production starting in August to create inventory for September’s release.
Apple is additionally driven by rising uncertainty regarding tariffs on imports from China to the U.S., hoping India can satisfy American demand for iPhones.
Nonetheless, the Chinese government is reportedly taking measures to obstruct this process, such as making it more challenging for Chinese engineers to travel to India. Recent reports suggest a withdrawal of Chinese engineers from India, which presents a challenge given their specialization in iPhone production.
In summary, Apple’s initiatives to establish simultaneous production of the iPhone 17 in both China and India illustrate its strategic transition towards expanding its manufacturing capabilities while addressing geopolitical obstacles.
