New Delhi, India – Apple is making strategic moves to potentially shift its entire line of iPhones for the US market to assembly facilities in India by the end of 2026. This shift comes as the Trump administration’s tariffs against China are impacting various industries, although mobile phones and computers have been temporarily exempted. Apple, which has traditionally centered its iPhone production in China, is seeking to reduce its vulnerability to trade war tensions between the two countries and avoid potential price increases for its popular product.
The company has already begun shipping iPhones made in India, indicating a proactive response to the changing trade landscape. Industry experts suggest that Apple may seek to double its iPhone manufacturing capacity in India over the next few years to diversify its production locations and mitigate risks associated with the ongoing trade tensions between China and the US.
While Apple is not expected to entirely shift iPhone production to the US due to cost considerations, the company may explore increasing manufacturing of components like modems and processors in the US. This could potentially enhance its strategic value in the eyes of the Trump administration, helping to secure its position in the global supply chain.
Experts in India note that Apple’s move towards more manufacturing in the country is part of a broader trend already underway, with other tech companies like Samsung, Oppo, Vivo, and Motorola also producing phones in India. The reported possibility of developing and manufacturing the iPhone 17 exclusively in India further underscores Apple’s commitment to diversifying its production locations and reducing dependency on a single manufacturing hub.
As tech giants like Apple and Google explore shifting more production to India, it remains to be seen how sustainable these moves will be in the long term. The evolving trade dynamics, coupled with the strategic imperatives of major tech companies, are reshaping the global manufacturing landscape and highlighting the importance of diversification and resilience in supply chain strategies. Time will tell how successful Apple’s shift to India will be amidst a rapidly changing global trade environment.