Apple is set to begin manufacturing AirPods in India, marking a significant development in its ongoing efforts to diversify production outside of China, according to a report by Times of India. Following the expansion of iPhone production in the country, AirPods will now be produced at two separate locations in India. Jabil’s factory in Pune will manufacture the casings, while the final assembly will be carried out at a new Foxconn facility in Telangana.
The scale of this operation is expected to mirror Apple’s iPhone manufacturing efforts in India, which primarily focus on exports. Notably, this expansion is occurring without the typical production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme, as such programs do not currently cover wireless headphones like AirPods.
In the fiscal year 2024, Apple exported an estimated $14 billion worth of iPhones from India, representing 14% of the company’s global iPhone output. The AirPods production is scheduled to begin next year, with plans to ramp up quickly and contribute significantly to Apple’s export portfolio. While AirPods will be available for sale in India, the primary market for these products will be international.