Apple is set to shift the assembly of all iPhones destined for the US market to India, a move aimed at reducing its reliance on Chinese manufacturing and mitigating the impact of Donald Trump’s trade war.
The plan, reportedly worth billions, would involve sourcing over 60 million iPhones sold in the US annually by the end of 2026 from Indian suppliers. This would require more than doubling iPhone assembly in India, which has already been ramping up production to meet growing demand.
Apple has been impacted by Trump’s aggressive tariff policies, but some relief came when the White House excluded smartphones from the heaviest Chinese tariffs. However, analysts estimate that about 90% of iPhones are still assembled in China due to the complexity of their manufacturing process.
The company has already begun diverting iPhones assembled in India to the US and is exploring cargo flights to ensure sufficient inventory in key markets like New Jersey or Texas.
Despite White House claims that an American-made iPhone is possible, experts are skeptical, citing significant costs and logistical challenges. Analysts estimate that producing an iPhone in the US would increase production costs by more than triple.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/apr/25/apple-source-us-iphones-india-china-trump-trade-war