Apple is set to release its iPhone 15 series in India and 40 other countries on September 22. This news comes from reports by The Economic Times and Bloomberg, citing insiders.
These phones will be manufactured in India and will be available to Indian customers, as well as in some other regions, on the first day of sales.
Apple’s India-Made iPhones Ready for Launch Day
This marks the first time that India-made iPhones will be available alongside those made in China. The iPhones were produced at Foxconn Technology Group’s factory in the southern state of Tamil Nadu last month.
In India, Apple’s contract manufacturing partner, Foxconn, is responsible for producing the iPhone 15 model. Analysts believe that this move by Apple reflects its confidence in its manufacturing capabilities in India and aligns with its continuous growth in the Indian market.
However, sources suggest that there may be slight delays in the India-made devices due to unforeseen logistics challenges. Before the iPhone 14, only a small portion of Apple’s global production occurred in India, lagging behind China by several months.
This delay was significantly reduced last year, and Apple increased its iPhone assembly in India, reaching 7% by the end of March.
Apple’s Strategic Focus on India
Apple views India as a strategic market, driven by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s incentives for local manufacturing and Apple’s efforts to diversify beyond China due to trade tensions. This has made India increasingly vital to Apple’s production strategy.
Apple’s other suppliers in India, including Pegatron Corp. and a soon-to-be Tata Group-owned Wistron Corp. factory, are also anticipated to manufacture the iPhone 15.
Apple perceives the rapidly growing Indian market as both a retail opportunity and a crucial production base for its devices in the long term. During the quarter ending in June, iPhone sales in India grew at a double-digit rate, reaching a new high, although specific numbers were not disclosed.
Apple CEO Tim Cook noted that their stores in India were performing well and that the company is investing more in its direct-to-consumer offerings. He also highlighted that India is the world’s second-largest smartphone market, and Apple aims to excel there.