Apple’s iPhone 16 series, made in India, will be available globally in the first few days of its sales launch, according to a report by The Economic Times. This is the first time that a global product, made in India, will be distributed worldwide so soon after its launch, marking a milestone for India’s growing manufacturing sector and the Make-in-India initiative.
For the first time, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max models will be shipped overseas from Indian factories. The iPhone 16 boasts of being one of Apple’s most advanced devices, incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) features.
The shift to India as a key production hub is seen as part of the tech giant’s efforts to diversify its manufacturing operations, especially amid rising geopolitical tensions between the United States and China, the report noted.
Apple’s iPhone 16 series launches today: where to watch it
India’s role in global iPhone production
In 2021, India-made iPhone 13 models hit global retailers a few months after their launch. In 2022, the lead time for the iPhone 14 was reduced to less than two weeks. Last year, Apple managed simultaneous production of the iPhone 15 in India and China, although the India-made devices were only available locally on the first day of sales.
According to the latest economic study, India currently contributes around 14 percent of Apple’s total global production, up from 7 percent last year. Moreover, Apple aims to shift 25 percent of its iPhone production to India by 2025 as part of its strategy to reduce dependence on China, the report said.
Currently, iPhones are only manufactured in India and China, but Apple has been steadily reducing the delay between the global launch of its new models and the availability of iPhones made in India.
iPhones worth Rs 1.20 trillion to be manufactured in India by FY24
Apple’s contract manufacturers, including Foxconn Hon Hai, Pegatron and Wistron (now owned by Tata Group), produced Rs 1.2 trillion worth of iPhones in India during the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, with exports valued at Rs 85 billion. These figures represent the value of the devices when they leave the factory (freight on board value), and retail prices are typically around 60 percent higher.
This year, Apple’s India-made iPhone 16 series will be available in several countries within days of its retail launch on September 10.
Apple continues to lead India’s mobile phone exports, and is the largest participant in the Indian government’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) programme for smartphones. This initiative aims to boost local manufacturing and increase exports.
First published: September 10, 2024 | 00:12 IS
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