Foxconn procures $32M machinery for Apple production in India amid China-related delays
Bengaluru: Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn has purchased manufacturing equipment worth $32 million (approximately ₹276 crore) to expand Apple production in India, media reports said.
The procurement follows reported delays by China in shipping specialised equipment and restrictions on new work rotations for Chinese employees at Foxconn’s Indian factories, according to a Financial Express report.
Foxconn’s regulatory filing confirms acquisition
In a recent regulatory filing, Foxconn stated that its subsidiary, Foxconn Hon Hai Technology India Mega Development, acquired machinery worth $32.26 million specifically for “Apple Operations.”
This marks the first major machinery import for iPhone production in over six months.
The last significant purchase occurred in October 2024, when Foxconn procured equipment worth $31.8 million (about ₹267 crore) to begin manufacturing Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro series at its Tamil Nadu plant.
China’s reported interference in Foxconn’s India expansion
In January 2025, a Rest of World report revealed that Foxconn had paused new work rotations for Chinese employees at its Indian iPhone factories, opting instead for Taiwanese staff.
The report, citing sources familiar with Foxconn’s Indian operations, also noted that shipments of critical manufacturing equipment were delayed in China, raising concerns over potential disruptions at Foxconn’s Tamil Nadu facilities, which employ around 50,000 workers.
The delays and staffing restrictions were reportedly linked to the Chinese government’s stance on Apple’s India expansion and the broader China+1 strategy, which Beijing is said to perceive as a competitive challenge.
Foxconn’s expansion plans in India
Foxconn’s latest machinery procurement aligns with its reported plan to double iPhone production in India, targeting 25-30 million units in 2025, up from approximately 12 million in the previous year.
Currently, most of Foxconn’s India production takes place at its Sriperumbudur plant near Chennai.
However, the company has begun trial production at its upcoming ₹25,000 crore facility in Bengaluru, known as Project Elephant.
Once fully operational, the Bengaluru plant is expected to assemble 20 million smartphones annually, making it Foxconn’s largest unit in India and its second-largest globally.
Apple to start AirPods production in India
According to a recent PTI report, Apple is set to begin AirPods production at the Foxconn plant in Hyderabad starting April. AirPods will become the second Apple product to be manufactured in India, following iPhones.
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