Cook's Final Masterstroke: Apple's India Manufacturing Surge Reshapes Global Tech

Tim Cook has transitioned to Executive Chairman of Apple, leaving behind a monumental legacy: transforming India into a critical global manufacturing powerhouse for the tech giant. What began modestly in 2017 with assembling older iPhone has exploded, with India now producing roughly one in four iPhone globally, equating to around 55 million units in 2025 alone. This strategic pivot, intensified by recent geopolitical shifts, is projected to see India share of global iPhone production rise to 30-35% within the next five years. This rapid expansion is a direct outcome of Apple 'China+1' strategy, aimed at reducing reliance on China due to mounting geopolitical risks and supply chain vulnerabilities. Key Indian players like Tata Electronics, which has notably surpassed Foxconn in iPhone exports from India under the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for FY22-FY26, and Foxconn itself, are aggressively scaling operations across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana. The Indian government's robust incentives, including the recently launched ₹62,500-crore Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme, are further accelerating this shift, pushing for deeper local component manufacturing and significantly boosting exports, which hit a record ₹2 lakh crore in FY26. The immediate future will see India pushing beyond just iPhone assembly, with Union Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw indicating potential expansion into MacBooks and iPads, though the primary focus remains on strengthening the local component ecosystem first. As John Ternus takes the helm as CEO, he inherits a significantly de-risked and diversified supply chain, with India firmly established as a long-term strategic manufacturing and export platform. This move isn't just about relocating factories; it's about reshaping Apple global production map for decades to come.