Apple’s contract manufacturer Foxconn (Hon Hai) has likely started trial production of the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models – set to be released in September – at its Chennai facility. Apple has also started pilot runs for the base models with plans for mass production to meet global launch timeline.
According to industry executives and customs data reviewed by ET, Foxconn has imported components such as bare printed circuit boards, display assemblies and camera modules for the Pro and Pro Max models in small batches of 500-1000 units. This suggests that a pilot phase is ongoing, the executives said.
Apple has so far been making the top-end Pro models exclusively in China. But the US-based smartphone company is looking to diversify out of that country amid geopolitical tensions between Washington and Beijing.
ET BureauApple didn’t respond to ET’s emailed queries.
Industry executives aware of the development said Apple is targeting mass production of the Pro models in India by the end of this fiscal year. The parts that were imported, as per data reviewed by ET, happened in June. Experts said it is likely that the company has imported more parts in the preceding months.
“Once pilot production is successful, Apple will look at mass producing the Pro models in India. Manufacturers in India have already demonstrated their capability to produce the base models in tandem with China last year. It is only natural for Apple to now look at increasing its share of local manufacturing by including the Pro models as well,” said an industry executive who did not wish to be named.
That said, it is not clear whether Apple will immediately be exporting the Pro models from India.
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