Electronics Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has signaled that Apple could broaden its India manufacturing beyond iPhones to include iPads and Macs. This potential expansion aligns with a new ₹62,500-crore government scheme to boost local electronics production. While the move signals deeper supply chain integration, global supply chain issues and component shortages remain key factors for the company.
India’s Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has indicated that Apple may soon expand its manufacturing footprint in India beyond iPhones to include iPads and Mac computers. The minister confirmed this expectation during a recent update regarding the government's efforts to strengthen the domestic electronics manufacturing sector.
This signal of expansion comes alongside the launch of a new Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS). With a budget of ₹62,500 crore, the program is set to run from the 2026-27 financial year through 2030-31. The government aims to use this incentive to encourage companies to increase local value addition, develop local smartphone brands, and further integrate India into global supply chains.
Scaling Apple’s Manufacturing Presence
Apple has been steadily increasing its manufacturing capacity in India since it began local iPhone assembly in 2017. Currently, the company works with global and domestic partners, including Foxconn and Tata Electronics, to assemble devices within the country. Data suggests that India is on track to account for approximately 26% of global iPhone production by the end of 2026. This shift is part of a larger strategy by the company to diversify its production base, which has traditionally been heavily concentrated in China.
In addition to the news about Apple, Minister Vaishnaw noted that the government expects companies like Google to also move a significant portion of their export-oriented device manufacturing from China to India. This reflects the government's broader goal of positioning the country as a major hub for global electronics exports.
Operational and Market Challenges
While the prospect of producing high-value devices like iPads and Macs in India is a significant step, the company faces operational realities. Moving production of complex electronics is a capital-intensive, multi-year process that requires developing a reliable ecosystem of local component suppliers.
Furthermore, the consumer electronics market is currently dealing with broader supply chain issues. Global shortages of semiconductor memory chips, such as DRAM and NAND flash, continue to pressure production costs. These global supply chain constraints have already had a visible impact on the market; as of June 2026, Apple had increased the prices of several Mac and iPad models in India. While the company has generally maintained a premium, less price-sensitive customer base, continued upward pressure on hardware prices due to global component costs remains a factor that could influence demand.
Investors and market observers will likely monitor the progress of the new manufacturing scheme and how quickly the company can scale up production of non-iPhone devices. The long-term success of these plans will depend on how effectively the local ecosystem can support the high-precision manufacturing required for these products while managing global cost pressures.