Key Takeaways
- Diwali sales projected to hit record Rs 4.75 lakh crore, driven by Indian-made goods
- Apple now manufactures one in five iPhones in India with $22 billion FY25 assembly value
- Major global companies expanding Indian manufacturing for domestic and export markets
- Automobile sector leads with massive export growth and production scaling
This Diwali marks a significant shift toward swadeshi consumption, with Indian-made products ranging from smartphones and SUVs to air fryers driving record festive sales. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for reduced dependence on foreign nations resonates across industries as manufacturing scales new heights.
Policy Push and Economic Impact
As tariffs and geopolitics create uncertainty, the government’s GST reforms supporting MSMEs have accelerated the move toward domestic products. Praveen Khandelwal of CAIT emphasizes that “every purchase of Indian-made goods is not just an act of celebration, but a contribution to strengthening the economy.”
The trading community pledges swadeshi products will dominate shop shelves this season.
Smartphone Manufacturing Revolution
The coveted iPhone now carries a Made in India stamp, symbolizing the sector’s transformation. Apple reportedly manufactures one in five iPhones in India, assembling $22 billion worth of devices in FY25 – a 60% year-on-year increase.
Since the PLI scheme launched in 2021, Apple’s vendors have achieved production worth over $45 billion with $34 billion in exports. Samsung operates its second-largest global mobile manufacturing unit in India, becoming the country’s second-largest handset exporter.
Consumer Durables Expansion
White goods manufacturers report growing consumer preference for quality Indian products. LG Electronics, with factories in Noida and Pune, plans to double manufacturing capacity within five years while expanding exports to 47 countries.
Sanjay Chitkara of LG stated: “While domestic demand remains robust, we want to position India as an alternate manufacturing hub.”
Global Companies Embrace Make in India
French tech major Schneider Electric manufactures 80-85% of its retail portfolio locally, with India serving as one of its four global hubs. Sumati Sahgal noted “double-digit growth in demand for our Made-in-India portfolio” this festive season.
Panasonic expects 25-30% demand growth, while Versuni (Philips) and IFB have opened new manufacturing facilities.
Automobile Sector Leads Export Charge
The automotive industry demonstrates the most visible local manufacturing success. Maruti Suzuki achieved record monthly exports of 42,204 units in September, growing 52.2% year-on-year.
Rahul Bharti described this as “a 21-gun salute to Make in India — make for the world.” Overall, India exported approximately 770,300 cars in FY25, up from 672,105 units the previous year.
Hyundai plans to make India its second-largest global market with Rs 45,000 crore investment, while Skoda Auto Volkswagen exports locally manufactured models to Mexico, South Africa and ASEAN markets.
Domestic manufacturers show equally impressive growth. Mahindra & Mahindra saw 60% registration surge during Navratri, while Tata Motors reported record September sales of 60,907 passenger vehicles – a 47% annual increase.
The electric vehicle segment joins the momentum, with Greaves Electric Mobility reporting surging demand for its Indian-designed and manufactured vehicles.
