Apple’s $600 billion US pledge casts shadow on India’s iPhone goals

India’s ambition to build more than one-third of the world’s iPhones by 2026–27 is under fresh scrutiny after Apple committed an additional $100 billion to expand manufacturing in the US under political pressure from Washington.

At a White House meeting on Wednesday, chief executive Tim Cook told US President Donald Trump that Apple would lift its total US investment to $600 billion over four years through a new American Manufacturing Program.

“We’re proud to increase our investments across the US … and launch our new American Manufacturing Program,” Cook said. “This includes new and expanded collaborations with 10 companies across America.”

The plan stops short of moving final iPhone assembly to the US, but Apple will shift more critical components—from glass to advanced chips—to domestic factories.

Trump, who had warned of steep tariffs, said he wanted “companies like Apple … coming home.”

Over the next four years, Apple plans to directly hire 20,000 people in the US across research and development, silicon engineering, software development, and artificial intelligence and machine learning.

For India, the announcement underscores both its rising importance and its vulnerability in Apple’s supply chain strategy.

Foxconn has pledged $1.5 billion to expand in Tamil Nadu, including a display module plant expected to create 14,000 jobs.

Tata Electronics has also grown rapidly as an iPhone assembler, helping India lift its share of global output to about 14% and aiming to double that next year.

In FY2024–25, India exported iPhones worth roughly ₹1.5 trillion (about $18 billion), with the US as a top market.

But Trump has signaled unease with offshore production, reportedly telling Cook, “I don’t want you building in India.” Analysts warn that while low-cost assembly in India is secure for now, higher-value manufacturing growth could face headwinds if US domestic-content demands harden.