India emerges as key hub for global mobile manufacturing

New Delhi

Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday emphasized that investing in India is a smart economic decision for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Speaking at the Bharat Telecom event, he highlighted Apple’s shift in production strategy, with the company deciding to manufacture most of its iPhones sold in the US from India. Scindia stated, “Apple has decided to source and produce all its mobile phones in India in the years to come.” He noted that such investments are economically viable for every OEM, offering affordability, reliability, and originality.

Apple’s recent earnings call revealed that the majority of iPhones sold in the US during the June quarter will be sourced from India, while China will continue to handle production for other global markets, amid ongoing uncertainties regarding tax tariffs. Minister of State for Telecommunications Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani also acknowledged India’s transformation from a major importer of mobile phones in 2014 to a leading producer and exporter. India’s mobile phone production surged from 60 lakh units in 2014 to 33 crore units by 2024, with exports reaching 5 crore units. Furthermore, India now manufactures 15% of the world’s iPhones, a significant boost to Apple’s global supply chain.

Pemmasani also praised the progress in India’s semiconductor mission, which aims to establish the country as a hub for electronics, system design, and manufacturing, contributing to technological self-reliance.