Apple’s supply chain in India has seen rapid growth over the past five years, creating 350,000 jobs as the company deepens its manufacturing footprint in the country. Government officials confirmed that Apple now works with nearly 45 Indian firms to support its operations, marking a significant milestone in its global strategy.
Building Jobs and Factories
Of the 350,000 jobs created, around 120,000 are direct roles within Apple’s supply chain, while the rest are tied to suppliers and supporting industries. The company also operates five factories in India, each employing thousands of workers. This growth highlights how quickly India has become a vital part of Apple’s production base—progress that took decades to achieve in China.
Local Partnerships and Incentives
The expansion is powered by collaboration with both large corporations and smaller local businesses. Key partners include Tata Electronics, Titan Engineering and Automation, and Avary, while 20 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have joined Apple’s supplier network. Many of these companies benefit from India’s Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, launched in 2020 to encourage domestic manufacturing. Thanks to these policies, roughly 20% of iPhones sold worldwide are now produced in India.
Responding to Global Challenges
Apple’s decision to scale up operations in India also reflects broader global concerns. Supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, along with U.S.-China trade tensions, exposed the risks of relying heavily on Chinese manufacturing. By strengthening its presence in India, Apple has built a safeguard against such uncertainties, ensuring that production can continue even if disruptions arise elsewhere.
A Rising Role in Global Electronics
Beyond job creation, Apple’s investment signals India’s growing influence in the global electronics market. The country is positioning itself as a manufacturing hub, while Apple gains greater flexibility and balance in its supply chain. This shift reduces dependence on a single region and opens the door for broader growth opportunities.
Apple’s Indian supply chain now plays a central role in its worldwide operations, combining rapid job creation, government-backed incentives, and strategic resilience to meet the demands of a changing global market.