Apple plans to make all US iPhones in India

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More iPhones are made in India than you might think
Made in India iPhones could become common in the United States next year.
Photo: Cult of Mac

In a major supply chain shift, Apple plans to move the production of all iPhones sold in the United States to India by the end of 2026. This move should allow the company to avoid the extra tariffs the U.S. government imposed on China amid escalating trade tensions.

More Made in India iPhones could hit the U.S. market next year

Apple has long relied on China as its manufacturing hub. During the disruptive COVID-19 pandemic, it began making India an alternative production hub. Since then, iPhone production in India has continued to grow, reaching a new high in the most recent fiscal year. Analysts expect Apple to double its iPhone output in the country within the next two years.

The ongoing tariff war between the United States and China speeded up Apple’s supply-chain migration to India. A Financial Times report says the company wants to move assembly of all iPhones sold in the United States to India by the end of next year.

To achieve this, Apple would need to double its iPhone assembly in the country in about a year. It typically sells more than 60 million iPhones in the United States every year.

Apple has made steady progress in assembling iPhones in India. Last year, it started making the iPhone 16 Pro in the country within days of its official launch. Previously, Apple only started assembling a Pro model in India a few months after its release.

Tariff war between the U.S. and China can get ugly

Earlier this month, the U.S. government slapped a hefty 145% tariff on goods imported from China. Apple CEO Tim Cook managed to secure a tariff exemption for iPhone and Mac. But it won’t last long. And, given the uncertainty surrounding tariffs, Apple apparently thinks it’s better to move assembly of iPhones sold in the United States entirely to India.

While imports from India also face tariffs, they are considerably lower at 25%. Additionally, the U.S. and Indian governments are negotiating a trade deal to reduce tariffs.

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