New Delhi, May 15—Government sources confirmed on Wednesday that Apple has reiterated its unwavering commitment to India as a key global manufacturing hub. This follows remarks by former US President Donald Trump urging the tech giant to scale back its operations in India.
Apple Assures India of Continued Investment
Indian officials swiftly engaged with Apple executives after Trump claimed he had asked CEO Tim Cook to cut down on manufacturing in India. According to sources, Apple reassured the Indian government that its investment strategy remains unchanged and that India will continue to serve as a major manufacturing base for its products."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," the official stated.
Apple has yet to respond publicly to an email query regarding the issue.
Trump's Criticism and Manufacturing Push in the US
Earlier in the day, Trump stated that he had confronted Cook about Apple’s growing footprint in India, urging the company to prioritize production in the United States instead."I said to him, Tim, you're my friend. I treated you very well. You're coming in with USD 500 billion. But now I hear you're building all over India. I don't want you building in India," Trump said, adding that India is "one of the highest tariff nations" and historically a challenging market to penetrate.
Trump noted that India has offered to waive tariffs, but emphasized, "We want you to build here," referring to the US.
India’s Role in Apple's Global Supply Chain
Despite the political rhetoric, Apple has increasingly turned to India to diversify its supply chain. In the June quarter, the company is expected to source the majority of iPhones sold in the US from India while continuing to rely on China for other global markets.Currently, India accounts for 15 percent of Apple’s global iPhone production. Key suppliers, including Foxconn, Tata Electronics, and Pegatron India (which is majorly owned by Tata), are actively involved in manufacturing operations. Foxconn has also commenced production of Apple AirPods in Telangana exclusively for export markets.
Export Surge Reflects Strategic Shift
Data from S&P Global highlights that Apple exported 3.1 million iPhones from India in March 2025 alone, with 97.6 percent headed to the US, up from 81.9 percent in the previous three months. This sharp export increase likely signals Apple's intent to mitigate potential tariff risks.Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently announced that iPhones worth ₹1.5 lakh crore were exported from India during FY25.
Apple Ecosystem: A Job Engine for India
Apple’s growing manufacturing base has also contributed significantly to employment generation. The company’s ecosystem in India is estimated to employ around 2 lakh people across its various vendors, making it one of the most prominent job creators in the tech manufacturing sector.As geopolitical and trade dynamics evolve, Apple’s commitment to India underscores the country’s rising strategic importance in the global tech supply chain.
