Trump does not want iPhone manufacturing plant in India, Apple’s plan remains intact
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he has asked Apple’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tim Cook to stop production of iPhones in India and create an iPhone in the US instead. Apple does not produce smartphones in America. Most of its iPhones are made in China, while plants in India produce about four crore units (about 15 percent of the annual production of Apple) annually.
Trump, who is emphasizing local manufacturing in his second term as President, said that Apple will ‘increase its production in America’. Soon after Trump’s statement in Doha, the capital of Qatar, the Government of India officials spoke to Apple officials. He has assured the administrative officials of India that Apple’s investment plans for India remain intact and the company proposes to make India a major manufacturing center for its products.
The President of the US said at the trade round table conference in Doha that he had some problems with Apple CEO Tim Cook. I have told Cook that I do not want you to make an iPhone in India.
Trump said, “I said to him (Cook) that my friend, I am treating you very well. You are bringing $ 500 billion, but now I am hearing that you are manufacturing in India. I do not want you to manufacture in India. If you want to take care of India, you can manufacture in India.”
In this regard, Apple has not received any answer to the questions sent through e-mail. However, sources said that Indian officials have spoken to Apple on Trump’s statement.
The source said, “Apple has assured that its investment plans in India remain intact and India will be a major manufacturing center for its products.”
The availability of cheap skilled labor and accurate engineering product supply chains has attracted Apple to China and India for manufacturing iPhone. In comparison, American labor and manufacturing are expensive.
Trump suggested that Apple may make its products in India for the Indian market. But the ‘Made in India’ (manufactured in India) being sold in America will have to be stopped.
He said, “If you want, you can manufacture in India, so that India can be taken care of.”
Cook had earlier said that Apple would buy most of the iPhones sold in the US in the June quarter from India, while China would make most of the equipment for other markets amid uncertainty on fees.
The iPhone made in India is assembled in Taiwan’s contract in Tamil Nadu, a company manufacturing Taiwan’s contract. Tata Electronics is the second major manufacturer to operate Pagtron Corp in India. Tata and Foxcony are building new plants to increase iPhone production and increase production capacity.
In the last financial year (2024-25), Apple assembled 60 percent more iPhone in India, which is estimated at $ 22 billion. Foxconn has also started manufacturing Apple Airports in Telangana for export.
According to the analysis of S&P Global, iPhone sales in the US in 2024 were 7.59 million units, with exports 31 lakh units from India in March.
According to the S&P Global Market Intelligence Report, “Apple’s Indian exports are already mainly towards America. It is 81.9 percent of the phone exported by the firm in three months till February 28, 2025. It has increased to 97.6 percent in March, 2025, resulting in an increase in exports to 97.6 percent.”
Union Electronics Minister Ashwini Vaishnav announced in April that iPhones worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore were exported from India in the last financial year.
Apple is the largest employment collector in the country in India. It is estimated that it has given employment to about two lakh people through various vendors of the country.
Also read- Apple CEO Tim Cook said Trump- not India, make iPhone in America