Tamil Nadu has rapidly ascended as a leading hub for Apple’s supply chain, attracting major investments from the tech giant’s contract manufacturers and component suppliers. The state now finds itself at the heart of Apple’s broader strategy to diversify operations beyond China, spurred by geopolitics, resilient supply chains, and India’s business-friendly policies.
Foxconn, Apple’s biggest partner, has committed billions of dollars to expand its iPhone assembly operations in the region, underlining Tamil Nadu’s role as a keystone of Apple’s Make in India push. Trial production of the upcoming iPhone 17 has started at Foxconn’s Sriperumbudur plant, while full-scale manufacturing is expected soon. Tata Electronics, now a significant member of Apple’s supply chain, is producing high-precision casings and has also taken over operations from Wistron, boosting the state’s manufacturing capacity further.
The electronics landscape in Tamil Nadu extends beyond just iPhones. The state boasts exclusive Special Economic Zones (SEZs) for electronics and hardware in Sriperumbudur and Oragadam. Incentivized by supportive policies and a skilled manufacturing workforce, over 16 global electronics producers including Samsung, Dell, Flex, Salcomp, and HP operate within these clusters.
Corning Inc., a key Apple supplier of Gorilla Glass for displays, is investing more than ₹1,000 crore ($120 million) in a new manufacturing facility in Pillaipakkam, reinforcing Tamil Nadu’s status as the go-to destination for premium component makers. Additional Apple suppliers and ecosystem partners including ON Semiconductor and Lingyi iTech have established manufacturing plants in the region, contributing to a dynamic and growing local network.
The state government’s ambition is to raise its share of India’s electronic hardware output from 20% to 25% and reach $100 billion in annual production value by 2025; a sign of both intent and capability.
Apple and its suppliers manufactured devices worth nearly $14 billion in India during FY24, with Tamil Nadu accounting for much of this through iPhone models 12 to 16. The entrance of new suppliers, expansion by existing giants, and plans to bring “New Production Introduction” (NPI) of future iPhones to India for the first time, all highlight Tamil Nadu’s importance in Apple’s long-term global manufacturing map.