Foxconn, Tata Electronics in overdrive for making iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models for exports

NEW DELHI: Apple’s iPhone factories in India have been working round the clock to ship the latest iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models across the world in order to make sure they’re on shelves in the US and elsewhere when sales of the latest models begin on Friday.

Several chartered flights have left India, mostly from Chennai, carrying the latest devices, with additional capacity being created to manufacture the latest Pro models, people aware of the details told ET.

Currently, two factories — one each of Foxconn and Tata Electronics — are making iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. The company will likely expand the number of assembly lines to nearly a dozen, depending on global demand, the people said.


“Apple had flown large quantities of iPhones on charters over the last week ahead of the global launch. More flights may be planned for taking iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models, mostly to the US,” said a person aware of the flight details.

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While this is the second time Apple will be selling made-in-India iPhones on the start date, it’s a first for Pro and Pro Max models. Last year, India-made iPhone 17s were launched on the first day of sales, with the Pro and Pro Max following. The Duo, Apple’s first foldable phone, is not being made in India.

However, the presence of India-made Pro and Pro Max models is a mark of the local manufacturing ecosystem maturing.

Up to 90% Output to be Shipped Abroad

They fill up the shelves, alongside those manufactured in China, from the start date itself. Earlier, there used to be a lag of a few days to months before India-made iPhones hit global markets.

Apple, Foxconn and Tata Electronics did not respond to queries till press time.

Since only 15% of total iPhones sold in India are in the Pro and Pro Max range, almost 80-90% of local production will go overseas, experts said. The jump in shipments is set to be reflected in export numbers for the September quarter, one of them said.

This is the first time Apple hasn’t launched a consumer or base version of the iPhone. But an iPhone 18 could debut in the coming months, perhaps in the first quarter of next year, industry executives said. These base models account for 80-85% of iPhones sold in India.

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The company has already announced price hikes on existing models by over 20%. The iPhone 17 now starts at Rs 99,900 as against last year’s launch price of Rs 82900. Prices of other existing models have also been increased.

The US has become India’s largest destination for iPhone exports, particularly after the Donald Trump administration imposed tariffs in February last year. As per government data, Apple exported iPhones worth $7 billion to the US in 2024, nearly tripling to $19.2 billion in 2025.

During the five-year period of the smartphone PLI scheme, iPhone production hit $71 billion.