Catenaa, Monday, May 26, 2025-Apple’s top contract manufacturer, Foxconn, is finalizing a 300-acre iPhone production campus near Bengaluru, defying US political pressure to shift operations to the United States.
The Devanahalli facility, backed by a $2.56 billion investment, includes dormitories set to house 30,000 workers, making it India’s largest such residential complex for factory staff.
Despite former President Donald Trump’s recent public disapproval of Apple manufacturing in India, CEO Tim Cook is pressing forward with plans to relocate significant iPhone production from China.
Foxconn’s project — dubbed “Project Elephant” — underlines Apple’s deepening commitment to India as a strategic manufacturing hub.
Construction at the Devanahalli site, located 34 kilometers from Kempegowda International Airport, remains on schedule with dormitories expected to be completed by December.
Sources say production of certain iPhone models began in May, with additional models lined up for August ahead of the iPhone 17’s September release.
Foxconn has earmarked ₹3,000 crore for each of the two development phases, spanning 2023–24 and 2026–27. The first production goal aims for 100,000 iPhones by year’s end. The facility prioritizes housing for female workers, who represent up to 80% of the planned workforce.
This development complements Foxconn’s broader Indian footprint, which includes operations in Tamil Nadu and a new AirPods plant in Hyderabad. Tata Electronics has also joined the iPhone supply chain, acquiring local assets of Pegatron and Wistron.
As Apple reconfigures its global supply chain, India is emerging as the next major manufacturing frontier.
