Catching Up: Apple's Indian iPhone Production Journey
Indigenous iPhone production by India may lag behind China's rate by a decade, according to a released publication
Apple has a ways to go before its Indian iPhone production matches China's explosive pace. Over the past six years, India's production growth, while impressive, pales in comparison to China's, according to veteran tech journalist Patrick McGee's latest book, Apple in China, published by Simon & Schuster.
From Humble Beginnings to Significant Shares
In the period between 2006 and 2013, Apple constructed its foundation in India and used it as a central hub for global operations. Over these years, the tech giant produced a substantial number of units, accounting for a sizeable portion of global shipments. But when contrasted with India's current output, the numbers are mind-boggling.
From clicking zero units in 2016 to 15 million units in 2023, India has made impressive strides, but it represents only one-tenth of China's growth over the same period.
Assembling in India: A China-Lite Version
In 2022, Apple started manufacturing the high-end iPhone Pro models in India. However, the majority of the components still hail from China and Taiwanese contract manufacturers like Foxconn and Wistron. In essence, "Made in India" iPhones are a streamlined version of their Chinese counterparts, with the final assembly, testing, and packaging taking place in India.
One engineer humorously pointed out that these “Made in India” iPhones are "basically assembled in China, disassembled there, and then sent to China for reassembly."
India's Slow-but-Steady Progress
Despite the hurdles, including infrastructure limitations and slower assembly speeds, Apple CEO Tim Cook has called India a nation on a "China-like trajectory." However, this trajectory hasn't been smooth, with regulatory hold-ups contributing to a slower pace. In an attempt to break free from this shackle, Apple opened its first online store in India in 2020 and its first brick-and-mortar store in 2023, a full 15 years after it established its first store in China.
Critical Junctures and Global Changes
Geopolitical tensions and the COVID-19 lockdown in Shanghai in 2022 prompted Apple to diversify its supply chain, pushing it to focus more on India. Yet, according to McGee, while Apple plans to expand its manufacturing capabilities in India over the next five to ten years, true resilience remains elusive.
This unscripted narrative about Apple's Indian journey, with help from enlightening insights, highlights the company's gradual progress and the challenges that lay ahead in the pursuit of self-reliance. When it comes to iPhone production, India still has a long way to go before it rivals China's scale and efficiency.
Contributor:
Ashish Singh
Ashish Singh, our chief copy editor, has been translating tech gibberish into understandable jargon since 2020. When not editing commas, he nourishes his gadget addiction with cups of coffee, maps out virtual races, and contemplates epic road trips, exploring the latest in-car technology. He communicates in fluent Geek. View Full Profile
In the context of expanding its production capabilities, Apple has considered India as a significant player in the industry, particularly in the finance and business sectors, with the potential for technology advancements. However, the progress in India's iPhone production remains disparate when compared to China's explosive growth, mirroring more of a "China-lite" version.
Despite the challenges and slower pace, the tech giant continues to invest in India, envisioning a more self-sufficient supply chain in the future. This strategic move is in response to geopolitical tensions and global changes, including the COVID-19 lockdown in Shanghai, which have prompted Apple to diversify its financial investments and resources.
