- Foxconn to produce iPhone metal enclosures in Tamil Nadu for the first time.
- Apple boosts local supply chain with Tata, Jabil, and Foxconn.
- The facility may also assemble display modules to speed up production.
Apple is strengthening its focus on the "Make in India" initiative, significantly increasing local manufacturing collaborations to boost iPhone output. With ongoing geopolitical uncertainties regarding China, Apple is focusing on India not only as an important market but also as an essential manufacturing hub for global supply.
Recent reports indicate that Foxconn, a major and highly reliable contract manufacturer for Apple, is establishing a new facility in Tamil Nadu specifically focused on the production of metal enclosures—or chassis—for iPhones. This is the initial occasion that Foxconn will manage the production of this particular component in India.
As per a report from Economic Times, the new facility is set to be situated within the ESR Industrial Park in Oragadam, Tamil Nadu. Though Foxconn currently assembles iPhones at its Sriperumbudur facility and produces AirPods in Hyderabad, this chassis plant signifies an innovative step in Apple's vertical integration strategy in India.
The initiative is anticipated to increase Foxconn’s domestic iPhone production value by approximately 2–3 percent, a slight improvement with possibly important implications.
Apple is already partnering with Tata Electronics, which produces iPhone metal casings domestically. Foxconn's entry into this "super-exclusive" manufacturing group indicates a strengthening of India's role in Apple's worldwide supply chain.
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While this adjustment probably won't directly influence iPhone prices for buyers, it may enhance Apple’s market entry schedules, aiding product accessibility in both India and worldwide. Quicker manufacturing and assembly processes frequently result in improved inventory control and export capabilities—advantages that Apple appears eager to leverage.
The building of Foxconn's new plant is reportedly moving quickly, but it still hasn't made any announcements as to when it will open. Moreover, within the same plant, Foxconn is reported to have plans to create yet another unit that will assemble display modules for iPhones, also an important component of the smartphone.
Apple's growth in its production network in India involves more than just iPhones. Reports suggest that Apple is increasing domestic production of plastic housings for its popular AirPods. Jabil, another Apple supplier, is reportedly in the process of opening its manufacturing plant in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, to support its production efforts. However, Jabil is already making AirPods housings in Pune, and the new plant should only improve production capacity further, but the enclosures produced here will be shipped to China and Vietnam for final assembly.
Apple is actively building a solid ecosystem in India with a handful of manufacturing partners, includingTata Electronics, Foxconn, and Jabil, which could be signaling a shift away from traditional East Asian supply chains. Additionally, these events signal Apple's ongoing confidence and growth of Indian manufacturing, more specifically, the fact that India is a critical part of the global technology manufacturing ecosystem.