iPhone 17 mass production to kick off in India in 2024
Over the past few years, Apple has gradually shifted iPhone production from China to other Asian locations like Vietnam and India. Industry analyst Ming Chi-Kuo states about 12-14% of iPhone shipments are assembled in India. That figure is expected to rise to 20-25% next year. Consequently, Foxconn plans to reduce production in its Taiyuan plant by up to 85%.
The news comes after Tata, a key player in the Indian market, acquired Wistron's iPhone assembly plant in India for US$125. Wistron winded up its India operation in May due to local regulatory issues. Furthermore, a worker dispute resulted in large-scale violence at one Wistron plant in 2020. Tata is expected to kick off iPhone assembly in Wistron's plan in 2024-25.
Kuo adds that the 2025-bound iPhone 17 will be assembled in India sometime in H2 2024. Usually, Apple prefers making cutting-edge iPhone models in China, which is a momentous occasion for India as a global assembly hub. Whether or not it will help keep iPhone prices in India low remains to be seen. Sky-high import duties have resulted in a nearly 33% increase in MSRP for some Pro models.
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