As geopolitical tensions between China and the U.S. increase, Apple has started manufacturing the iPhone 14 in India about two months after its release in China.
The move will help reduce the gap between the release date and its availability in India. Typically, Apple devices are launched in India six to nine months after their release date. Reducing the delay in availability means that the company will be able to capture a greater market share, which is crucial because telecom providers in the country have launched 5G services.
Apple’s main iPhone assembler, Foxconn, is manufacturing the devices at its factory on the outskirts of Chennai. The first iPhone 14s from India are likely to be ready in late October or November in time for the Diwali festival that begins on October 24.
Apple will not only sell India-produced phones locally but also export them to other markets globally.
JP Morgan analysts report that Apple will move 5% of its global production for the iPhone 14 to India by late 2022. The company may also make 25% of all iPhones by 2025 in India, the report noted.
