Foxconn to Start Making iPhone Casings in India as Apple Expands Local Manufacturing

Highlights

• Foxconn will begin producing iPhone casings in India.
• The company is setting up a new facility at the ESR Industrial Park in Oragadam, Tamil Nadu.
• The new facility adds to Foxconn’s growing India operations, which already include iPhone assembly, AirPods production and an upcoming display module plant.

Caption – Taiwanese multinational Foxconn is further expanding its manufacturing operations in India. (Image credit – Apple)

Foxconn is taking another big step in supporting Apple’s growing manufacturing presence in India. The company is now preparing to start making iPhone casings locally, a first for Foxconn in the country.

According to a report from The Economic Times, Foxconn is setting up a new facility at the ESR Industrial Park in Oragadam, Tamil Nadu, dedicated to producing metal enclosures (or casings) for iPhones. Until now, Tata Electronics has been the only company manufacturing iPhone casings in India, and recently gained attention for becoming Apple’s new partner for iPhone and MacBook repairs in the country.

This move marks a new area of operations for Foxconn in India, which has so far focused mostly on iPhone assembly at its Sriperumbudur plant, as well as newer projects like AirPods production in Hyderabad and a major upcoming iPhone assembly facility near Bengaluru.

While making casings doesn’t add much to the total value of the device, just 2–3% of the iPhone’s bill of materials, this new operation will help Foxconn slightly increase its India-based value addition.

Still, as analyst Neil Shah from Counterpoint Research points out, Foxconn’s local value contribution is expected to remain under 10%. Shah also notes that Apple already gets its iPhone casings from several suppliers globally, including Foxconn in other countries, so bringing this capability to India is a natural expansion.

The construction of the new unit is already underway, and it’s being built in the same park where another Foxconn facility for iPhone display modules is also in the works.

Meanwhile, on the geopolitical front, U.S. President Donald Trump stirred the pot on Truth Social, saying, “I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone’s that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else. If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Despite such rhetoric, Apple’s focus on India is only growing. With efforts now spanning iPhone casings, display modules, AirPods, full device assembly, and even retail expansion, Apple and Foxconn are clearly committed to deepening their manufacturing footprint in India.

FAQs

Q1. What new manufacturing role is Foxconn taking on in India?

Answer. Foxconn is setting up a new facility at the ESR Industrial Park in Oragadam, Tamil Nadu, to produce metal enclosures (casings) for iPhones, marking its first time handling this component in India.

Q2. How does this move impact Apple’s manufacturing strategy in India?

Answer. This expansion supports Apple’s broader goal of deepening its local manufacturing ecosystem, which now includes iPhone assembly, AirPods production, display modules, and casings, reducing reliance on China.

Q3. Will this significantly increase Foxconn’s value addition in India?

Answer. While making casings adds only 2–3% to the iPhone’s bill of materials, it helps Foxconn slightly boost its India-based value contribution, which is still expected to remain under 10%.

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