New Delhi/Doha, May 15 – United States President Donald Trump has publicly urged Apple CEO Tim Cook to stop manufacturing iPhones in India and instead bring production back to the United States. Speaking at a trade roundtable event in Doha, Trump stated that he had a direct conversation with Cook, emphasizing his desire for Apple to manufacture its iconic smartphones domestically rather than overseas.
Currently, Apple does not manufacture iPhones in the US. The majority of its production takes place in China, with India contributing approximately 40 million units annually—roughly 15 percent of Apple’s global output. Despite Trump’s call, Apple’s plans to expand manufacturing in India remain intact, as per agency report.
Following Trump's remarks in Doha, Indian government officials engaged with Apple representatives who assured them that the company’s investment commitments in India would remain unchanged. Apple continues to view India as a key manufacturing hub for its products, particularly given the region’s access to affordable skilled labor and robust supply chains.
President Trump noted that while he was aware of Apple’s plan to invest $500 billion in the US over the next four years, he had expressed concern about the company’s growing manufacturing operations in India. He suggested that while it may be acceptable for Apple to produce phones in India for the Indian market, iPhones sold in the United States should not be made in India.
Apple, however, has not yet officially responded to the questions sent via email regarding the matter. According to sources familiar with the matter, Indian officials contacted Apple following Trump’s comments, and the company reiterated its confidence in its Indian manufacturing plans.
India has emerged as a key location for Apple’s production, especially as it seeks to diversify away from China amid global trade uncertainties. Apple’s iPhones in India are primarily assembled at a Foxconn facility in Tamil Nadu, while Pegatron operations under Tata Electronics also contribute significantly. Both Foxconn and Tata are actively expanding their infrastructure to scale up iPhone production.
In the financial year 2024–25, Apple assembled 60 percent more iPhones in India, with an estimated value of $22 billion. Foxconn has also begun manufacturing Apple AirPods for export at its plant in Telangana.
As per agency report, data from S&P Global shows that Apple sold 75.9 million iPhones in the US in 2024, with India exporting 3.1 million units to the US in March alone. According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, 81.9 percent of Apple’s phone exports from India in the three months ending February 28, 2025, were directed to the US. This figure surged to 97.6 percent in March, indicating Apple’s attempt to mitigate high tariffs by increasing India-based exports.
Earlier in April, India’s Minister of Electronics Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that iPhone exports from India reached ₹1.5 lakh crore in the previous fiscal year. Apple is also considered one of the largest employment generators among multinational firms operating in India, reportedly supporting over 200,000 jobs through its network of local vendors.
While Trump’s remarks raise questions about the geopolitical implications of global manufacturing strategies, Apple’s India operations continue undeterred, positioning the country as a critical player in the global electronics supply chain.
