In a remarkable move that’s set to reshape India’s technology manufacturing landscape, Apple Inc. is gearing up to boost its production in the country by over five-fold in the next four to five years, reaching an impressive $40 billion (approximately Rs 3.32 lakh crore) mark, as reported by government sources. This bold expansion plan comes on the heels of Apple’s remarkable achievement of surpassing the $7 billion production milestone in the previous fiscal year.

The undisclosed government official who broke the news shared, “Apple has plans to increase production in India to over $40 billion in the next four to five years. It has crossed $7 billion in the last fiscal.” Despite reaching out to Apple for comment, the company has maintained its characteristic silence on the matter.

Apple’s journey in India has been marked by significant milestones, including the manufacture of iPhones within the country and upcoming plans to start producing AirPods starting next year. However, it’s worth noting that Apple currently has no immediate plans to manufacture iPads or laptops in India. The official stated, “They don’t have any plans to participate in IT hardware PLI. They may come at a later stage, but as of now, their focus is to scale up existing production levels.”

The global juggernaut that is Apple reported impressive figures in the financial year ending on September 25, 2022, with iPhone sales totaling a staggering $191 billion and products from the wearable, home, and accessories segment contributing $38.36 billion to the company’s coffers.

Despite facing some challenges in the first nine months of the current fiscal year, including a 4% dip in iPhone sales at $156.77 billion and a slight decline in the wearable, home, and accessories segment at $30.52 billion, Apple has still managed to become the largest exporter of mobile phones from India.

One of the standout moments for Apple in India is the launch of its iPhone 15 series, which recorded an astonishing 100% growth compared to the previous iPhone 14 series on its launch day. Notably, Apple has started manufacturing two variants of the iPhone 15 series in India, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, marking a significant step towards local production.

In a move that aligns with the ‘Make in India’ initiative, Apple has made its ‘made-in-India’ iPhones available on the same day as the global release, underlining the country’s growing importance in its global strategy.

According to market research firm Counterpoint Research, Apple has asserted its dominance in the ultra-premium smartphone segment (phones priced above Rs 45,000 apiece) in the first quarter of 2023, commanding an impressive 59% market share. India’s importance in Apple’s global market footprint is now undeniable, solidifying its position among the company’s top-five markets.

As Apple continues to scale up production in India and leverage its growing market share, the tech giant is undoubtedly set to leave an indelible mark on India’s technology manufacturing landscape and the global tech industry at large.

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