Apple Ramps Up ‘Made in India’ AirPods Production
Apple has officially begun manufacturing AirPods in India, with its supplier Foxconn targeting a major production increase at its Hyderabad facility. The plant aims to double its output to 200,000 units per month within the next six to eight months.
Key Takeaways
- Foxconn’s Hyderabad plant targets 200,000 AirPods per month.
- Production to double from the current 100,000+ units.
- Investment of Rs 4,800 crore will create 3,000 new jobs.
- Plant will produce latest AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3 models.
Hyderabad Plant Expansion Details
The Kongara Kalan plant near Hyderabad airport started commercial production of AirPods in April 2025. Foxconn Interconnect Technology (FIT) is now executing Apple’s directive to significantly scale up manufacturing capacity.
To achieve this target, FIT is upgrading five existing production lines and adding one or two new lines. Much of the required machinery is being relocated from Foxconn’s facilities in Vietnam, streamlining the expansion process.
Employment and Investment Impact
The expansion will create substantial employment opportunities in the region. The facility currently employs around 2,000 staff, with projections indicating this will grow to 5,000 employees within the next eight months.
The total investment in the Hyderabad plant will reach Rs 4,800 crore, with over Rs 3,000 crore already deployed. This capital expenditure covers both transferred machinery and new equipment needed to manufacture the latest Apple models, including the AirPods 4 (launched September 2024) and the AirPods Pro 3 (introduced this year).
Strategic Supply Chain Diversification
This manufacturing expansion represents Foxconn’s strategic push to diversify its supply chain away from China and navigate geopolitical challenges. The move solidifies India’s role in Apple’s global manufacturing network.
The Hyderabad facility is part of a larger $550 million project announced by Foxconn in May 2023 under Chang Yi Interconnect Technology (India) Pvt. Ltd., aimed at creating 24,000 jobs. The project focuses on manufacturing accessories for global and domestic markets, including AirPods, cables, and connectors.
Overcoming Production Challenges
Although AirPods production faced initial hurdles earlier this year due to a shortage of the rare earth metal dysprosium – caused by China’s temporary export restrictions – the bottleneck has reportedly been resolved. This allows FIT to maintain steady manufacturing and accelerate expansion plans.
The sustained growth of Apple’s manufacturing footprint in India is further evidenced by a 75% surge in iPhone exports in the first half of the current fiscal year. Apple now manufactures the entire iPhone 17 series lineup in India, exporting most production to the US market.
