Despite recent remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump urging Apple to halt iPhone manufacturing in India, the tech giant has privately reassured Indian government officials that its investment and manufacturing plans in India remain unchanged, according to a PTI report.
Trump’s comments came during a business forum in Doha, where he claimed to have urged Apple CEO Tim Cook to shift production back to the United States. “I don’t want you building in India if you want to take care of India,” Trump reportedly told Cook. He added that Apple might continue making iPhones for the Indian market in India, but not those destined for U.S. consumers—implying a preference for reshoring production of U.S.-bound devices.
While Apple has not issued any public statement in response, sources within the Indian government said that Apple has reaffirmed its commitment to India as a key pillar of its global supply chain. According to one official, “Apple has said that its investment plans in India are intact and it proposes to continue to have India as a major manufacturing base for its products.”
This reassurance comes at a time when India plays an increasingly important role in Apple’s global operations:
-
15% of Apple’s global iPhone production now comes from India.
-
In FY25, India exported iPhones worth over ₹1.5 lakh crore, with the majority of shipments headed to the U.S.
-
Apple also assembled 60% more iPhones year-on-year in India.
-
Local production of AirPods has been ramped up through Foxconn’s facility in Telangana.
Indian officials noted that the country's growing electronics ecosystem, competitive manufacturing environment, and supportive government policies are continuing to attract major global tech companies like Apple.
In essence, while Trump’s remarks may signal political pressure to boost U.S.-based production, Apple appears committed to retaining and even expanding its footprint in India—a critical hub in its strategy to diversify supply chains and tap into emerging markets.
