Apple Gives Big Boost To Make-In-India, Starts Manufacturing Flagship iPhone 11 At Chennai Plant

In a boost for government's 'Make in India' initiative, American smartphone giant Apple has begun the production of its flagship iPhone 11 at the Foxconn plant near Chennai, reports Economic Times.

According to the report, it is for the first time that Apple is manufacturing a top-of-the-line iPhone model in India. Earlier, the company was manufacturing its 'budget' iPhone SE in the country.

The production of iPhone 11 will be ramped up in phases and the company may also consider exporting the India-made iPhones, two senior industry executives were quoted as saying.

The prices for the device haven't been cut in India as Apple also sells China-made iPhone 11 in the country. However, industry executives have said that a price reduction can be expected in future as the local production of iPhone saves Apple 22 per cent import duty.

Further, the company is also considering a plan to make the new iPhone SE at the Wistron plant near Bengaluru. Foxconn and Wistron, both Taiwanese firms, are Apple's contract manufacturers of iPhones.

The Wistron plant near Bengaluru earlier used to produce the old iPhone SE, which has been withdrawn following the release of the new model.

The move, according to the report, to localise the production will also help Apple in availing the benefits under the government's recently announced production linked incentive (PLI) scheme besides helping the company to move its produce base beyond China at a time when tensions are high in the relationship between the United States and China.

iPhone 11 reportedly is the biggest seller device of the company in India. As per the industry executives cited in the report, supplies of the India-made iPhone 11 have already reached the stores.

Besides iPhone 11, Apple also make two other devices locally - the iPhone XR at the Foxconn plant and the iPhone 7 at the Wistron facility.