Apple is now assembling iPhone 16 Pro units in India, giving its local manufacturing efforts a huge boost.
It also plans to open four new Apple Stores in India to expand its presence further.
Apple’s manufacturing efforts in India get another boost
Apple began manufacturing in India in 2017. However, after the COVID-19 pandemic, the company asked its suppliers to boost their manufacturing efforts in India to reduce its reliance on China.
Typically, there was a gap of a few months between a new iPhone going on sale and its assembly beginning in India. Apple worked with its suppliers over the last couple of years to reduce this gap. However, it only applied to the non-Pro iPhones.
With the iPhone 16 Pro, the company is turning another leaf in its Indian manufacturing efforts. Within a month of its new flagship iPhone going on sale, it is already being assembled in the country. Apple made this move despite one of its supplier’s factories in India catching fire a few days ago.
Multiple reports previously indicated Apple’s increased efforts to make the iPhone 16 Pro in India soon after its launch. In addition to meeting local demand, the company will export the Indian-assembled iPhone 16 Pro units. With this addition, Apple suppliers are assembling the entire iPhone 16 lineup in India.
More Apple Stores to open in India
Apple’s senior Vice President of Retail, Deirdre O’Brien, also confirmed in a statement that the company will open four more retail stores in the country. The company currently operates two retail stores in India, one in Delhi and another in Mumbai. The first store opened in April 2023 after years of delay, with Tim Cook and other high-profile Apple executives attending the launch.
The new stores will be located in Bengaluru, Pune, Delhi, and Mumbai and will reportedly open by next year.
