“Apple’s latest iPhone 16 being produced and launched globally from Indian factories! PM @narendramodi Ji’s ‘Make in India’ initiative is now driving the creation of iconic products for the world,” Vaishnaw said in a post on X.
The ‘Made in India’ iPhones will go on sale in the country on September 20, and will be exported to other nations.
Both iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will come with Apple Intelligence, “the easy-to-use personal intelligence system that understands personal context to deliver intelligence that is helpful and relevant while protecting user privacy”.
Apple’s ‘Make in India’ initiative
According to news agency ANI, Apple – for the past 7 years – has been progressively ramping up its production in India. This expansion is expected to elevate India’s share in Apple’s total iPhone production from approximately 14% earlier this year to 25% by next year.
Reports suggest that iPhone exports from India continue to reach approximately $1 billion each month, driven by the government’s production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme. According to government reports, over 200,000 people have been employed within Apple’s ecosystem, contributing to significant growth.
In the fiscal year 2023-24, iPhone exports from India surged to $12.1 billion, up from $6.27 billion in 2022-23. Overall, Apple’s operations in India reached a value of $23.5 billion in FY24.
Moreover, during the peak festival period, iPhone factories in India are expected to hire over 10,000 people directly. Apple plans to manufacture more than 50 million iPhones annually in India, shifting some production from China.