Apple to Start Assembling AirPods in India For The First Time: Report

Highlights

• Apple to assemble AirPods in India near Hyderabad in early 2025 with Foxconn Technology Group.
• This will be the second major Apple product assembled in India.
• It is driven by government incentives, a skilled workforce and reducing dependence on China.

Apple is reportedly planning to assemble its AirPods wireless earphones in India marking another significant step in the company’s effort to expand manufacturing outside of China.

According to a Bloomberg report, the major Apple supplier Foxconn Technology Group is set to begin AirPods production at a new facility near Hyderabad, Telangana. This production is expected to start as early as the first quarter of 2025 with trial runs already underway.

As per reports, Apple will start full-scale manufacturing most likely soon after the trials.

This move will make AirPods the second major Apple product to be assembled in India after the iPhone. Apple’s decision to expand its manufacturing footprint in the country is driven by several factors including government incentives, a skilled workforce and advancements in India’s technological infrastructure.

“It will be a mega operation, on the lines of the work done for iPhones, and will be focused mainly on global exports, considering that the market for AirPods is much bigger abroad than in India,” sources told TOI.

“The focus on exports means that Apple will create a second large manufacturing base outside China, which currently is one of the key production centres for most of its products. The plan was the same when the iPhone manufacturing had started,” another of TOI sources was quoted.

Moreover, the decision is also part of Apple’s long-known goal to reduce dependence on China.

The AirPods assembled in India are expected to cater significantly to global markets boosting Apple’s export figures. While China and Vietnam remain the primary hubs for AirPods production, India’s emergence as a manufacturing base highlights Apple’s efforts to diversify its supply chain.

However, this update isn’t some big secret. Reports of AirPods manufacturing in India have surfaced before.

In October 2024, it was revealed that an American contract manufacturer Jabil started producing AirPods casings at a facility in Pune. This new initiative is expected to mirror the scale of iPhone production in India with a strong emphasis on exports to meet the growing global demand for AirPods.

However, the TOI report revealed that the production of MacBooks in India will take time.

“First, the volumes for Apple’s premium notebooks are still limited here, and so the business case is also restricted. Also, with more than sufficient global production levels, creating new factories in India can lead to oversupply. Thus, MacBook production will take time as of now,” undisclosed TOI sources added.

FAQs

Q1. Where is Foxconn Technology Group set to begin AirPods production in India?

Answer. Foxconn Technology Group is set to begin AirPods production at a new facility near Hyderabad, Telangana.

Q2. Why has Apple decided to expand its manufacturing to India for AirPods?

Answer. Apple’s decision to expand its manufacturing footprint in India is driven by several factors including government incentives, a skilled workforce, advancements in India’s technological infrastructure, and reducing dependence on China.

Q3. What impact will the AirPods assembled in India have on the global market?

Answer. The AirPods assembled in India are expected to cater significantly to global markets, boosting Apple’s export figures and highlighting efforts to diversify its supply chain.

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