Signaling the start of trial production this July, Apple supplier Foxconn Technology Group has begun importing essential components for the iPhone 17 to India from China. Full-scale manufacturing will reportedly follow in August. The move forms part of Apple’s broader push to align its India and China production timelines for the first time, ahead of the global iPhone 17 launch in September. This also reflects India’s rising importance in Apple’s global manufacturing strategy.

 Records reveal that 10 percent of Foxconn’s imports from China in June consisted of iPhone 17 parts — including display assemblies, cover glass, rear camera modules, and mechanical housings. While the bulk of recent shipments were still for iPhone 14 and iPhone 16, intended to meet festive demand in India, the incoming iPhone 17 components mark a pivotal shift in Apple's manufacturing approach.

As part of its strategy to reduce dependency on China, Apple is aiming to manufacture the iPhone 17 simultaneously in India and China, a first in the company’s history. This aligns with the company’s 2026 target of making India the key supply base for iPhones exported to the United States, particularly in response to Donald Trump’s high tariffs on Chinese imports.

While the iPhone 14 was produced in India six weeks after China, the iPhone 15 saw near-simultaneous rollout. In 2024, Apple integrated India into its New Product Introduction (NPI) process for the base iPhone 16, breaking China’s monopoly on early production phases.