Apple to Offer Made-in-India iPhone 15 on Day of Release
According to anonymous sources, Apple Inc. intends to release the iPhone 15, which will be manufactured in India, on the same day as its global launch. Although most iPhone 15 units will still be produced in China, this marks the first time that an India-made device of the latest generation will be available for purchase on the first day of sales. The sources requested anonymity due to the confidential nature of the information.
It would also highlight India’s growing manufacturing capabilities and reflect a significant departure from Apple’s previous strategy of selling mostly Chinese new devices to eager customers around the world. The new iPhone 15 is expected to go on sale within days or weeks of its announcement, Tuesday at 10 a.m. California time.
Cupertino, California-based Apple began production of the iPhone 15 at supplier Foxconn Technology Group’s factory in southern Tamil Nadu last month. The move was yet another attempt by the US tech giant to further narrow the gap between its Indian operations and its main manufacturing facilities in China.
The India-built device may experience minor delays due to unforeseen logistical bottlenecks, the people said. Apple representatives did not respond to a request for comment.
Apple will introduce the iPhone 15, updated watches and AirPods at a gala event at its headquarters in the United States. Sales of new products typically start about 10 days after the presentation.
Before the iPhone 14, Apple assembled only a fraction of its global production in India, which was six to nine months behind China’s production. Last year, this delay drastically reduced to just weeks, and Apple has increased the share of iPhones it assembles in India to 7% at the end of March.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s economic incentives to boost local production and Apple’s strategy to look beyond China amid a trade war between Washington and Beijing have helped India become increasingly important in the iPhone maker’s diversification efforts.
The iPhone 15 is expected to be the biggest update to the device in three years. It includes updates to the camera system across the range, with the Pro models getting an improved 3nm processor. The new lineup is crucial for reviving ticket sales. In August, Apple reported a third consecutive quarter of sales declines, weighed down by weak consumer demand in key markets such as the United States, China and Europe.
Apple’s other suppliers in India — Pegatron Corp. and a Wistron Corp. plant that Tata Group will soon buy — are also likely to assemble the iPhone 15 soon, Bloomberg News has reported.
Apple, which opened its first Indian stores this year, sees the fast-growing market as both a retail opportunity and an important production base for its devices in the longer term. Between the quarter and June, iPhone sales in India grew at a double-digit rate to a new high, Apple said, without disclosing exact numbers.
