Jabil Inc., a key Apple supplier, is building anew factory in India’s southern state of Tamil Nadu, specifically for manufacturing AirPods enclosures. This expansion builds on Jabil’s existing operations in the city of Pune, where the company began producing AirPods components in 2023 and has been shipping plastic enclosures to assembly plants in China and Vietnam.
The potential Tamil Nadu expansion represents another significant step in Apple’s ongoing strategy to diversify its supply chain beyond China. According to reports, Jabil executives from the United States recently met with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin in Chennai and visited the company’s under-construction facility in the state. In September 2024, Jabil announced plans to invest approximately $240 million in this manufacturing facility.
These developments align with Jabil’s previously stated intentions to establish two new manufacturing units in India over a three to four-year period, aiming to expand its presence in the iPhone market.
Jabil currently maintains two facilities in Pune where they produce a variety of electronic components including WiFi modules, near field communication (NFC) technology, radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, camera optics, and various power electronics.
Just two months ago, reports emerged about Apple beginning to export components for multiple product lines—including MacBooks, AirPods, Apple Watch, Apple Pencil, and iPhones—from India to assembly locations in China and Vietnam. These components are being supplied by electronics manufacturers including Motherson Group, Jabil, Aequs, and Tata Electronics.
Apple’s shift toward India has been accelerating recently. A new iPhone manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu has already commenced production, while another unit in Karnataka is scheduled to begin shipments in the coming weeks. Additionally, Foxconn’s $2.6 billion plant near Bangalore is poised to start initial operations with one assembly line in the immediate future.
Last updated: December 26th, 2025
