Apple is increasing its production in India, and this time, it’s not just about iPhones! The business now plans to double the number of AirPods made each month in India. This move is part of Apple’s larger goal to depend less on China and strengthen its developed base in India.
Apple’s Expansion Plan in India
Apple has already been making many of its iPhone models in India with help from Tata and Foxconn, two major built-up partners. Now, one of Apple’s contract manufacturers, Foxconn Interconnect Technology (FIT), is preparation to expand its factory in Hyderabad, Telangana, where AirPods are currently made.
According to a report, Foxconn will increase both its workforce and production lines over the next six to eight months. This means that more people will get works, and more AirPods will be made right now in India.
More AirPods, More Jobs
The Hyderabad plant, located in Kongara Kalan, began making AirPods earlier in April this year. To boost production, Foxconn is importing new machinery from its shops in Vietnam. The company is also working on upgrading five production lines to make the latest AirPods models — possibly the new AirPods Pro 3.
Right now, the workshop makes about 1,00,000 AirPods per month. After the upgrade, the goal is to make 2,00,000 AirPods every month — that’s double the current volume!
The workforce is also set to grow from 2,000 employees to 5,000 employees, meaning thousands of new jobs for local workers.
Big Investments and Tasks
Foxconn’s subsidiary has already invested around Rs. 3,000 crore in the project and plans to invest another Rs. 1,800 crore, taking the total to Rs. 4,800 crore. Some of the new manufacture lines will be imported directly from Vietnam.
However, the factory recently faced a small challenge — a shortage of dysprosium, a rare earth metal used in the magnets of AirPods. Since most of this material comes from China, the shortage slightly slowed manufacture. But the good news is that manufacturing never completely stopped.
Apple’s Bigger Goal
Apple’s goal is clear: to reduce its reliance on China and make more products in India. These shifts will not only help Apple manage its supply sequence better but also boost India’s growing tech manufacturing business.
By expanding AirPods production, Apple is making India an even bigger part of its global production story — and giving a strong push to “Make in India.”
