Apple to manufacture iPhone 16 Pro models in India soon after launch

• Apple will reportedly make iPhone 16 Pro models in India this year.
• Foxconn is expected to make the iPhone 16 Pro models at its facility in Sriperumbudur.
• The iPhone 16 Pro models will reportedly be imported in the first few weeks.

In a boost to Apple’s iPhone production in India, the Cupertino tech giant is set to manufacture the flagship models in its upcoming iPhone 16 lineup soon after its launch.

Last year, Apple produced the iPhone 15 in India and this was available from day one. Soon after this, the iPhone 15 Plus was produced in India by Pegatron. The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max were imported in the country.

According to a report by Moneycontrol, the iPhone 16 Pro models will also be produced in India this year. The iPhone 16 Pro models will reportedly be assembled by Apple’s partner Foxconn at its facility in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu as part of the company’s plan to diversify production from China.

"Every year, Apple seeks to deepen its manufacturing capabilities with partners in India. Production of Pro models is something that has been under consideration for the last couple of years. This year, Apple will manufacture the Pro and Pro Max models in India to make sure the India-assembled iPhone 16 Pro models are available in the country after the launch,” the report said, citing a source familiar with the matter.

Initial devices to be imported

As the iPhone 16 Pro models will be produced sometime after its launch, the initial devices will be imported, and this will cost Apple less this year as the Indian government has reduced the basic customs duty (BCD) on mobile phones as part of Budget 2024-25.

The iPhone 16 is set to be made available on the first day of sales in India and it will be shortly followed by iPhone 16 Plus.

Apple’s sales in India to grow by over 20% this year

According to industry estimates, iPhone shipments are projected to increase by over 20% this year on the back of domestic manufacturing support and strong distribution.

Apple saw robust sales of around $8 billion in the country in FY24, an increase of around 33% year-on-year.

Apple shipped over 10 million iPhones in 2023 in India, up from 6 million in 2022. The company recorded a 6% market share in the Indian smartphone market in 2023.

Experts have said that there is a definitive trend of Apple attracting many first-time users for its newly launched iPhones in India, alongside the strong sales of previous-generation devices.

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