Foxconn Hires 30,000 Employees At New Apple iPhone Assembly Unit in Bengaluru, Karnataka, Says Report

Taiwanese manufacturing giant Foxconn (Hon Hai Precision Industry Company) is reportedly expanding its Apple iPhone assembly line in India. The company has hired nearly 30,000 staff in the eight to nine months duration in its iPhone assembly plant located in Devanahalli near Bengaluru in Karnataka, reported Economic Times, citing sources.

The recent expansion comes at a time when Apple is seeking to strengthen its manufacturing footprint beyond China. GoodReturns could not independently verify the development, and a response to queries sent to Foxconn is still awaited.

Apple iPhone maker Foxconn Plant in Karnataka

Foxconn's Devanahalli facility in Karnataka is primarily run by women and has hired nearly first-time workers aged 19-25. The Karnataka-based Apple iPhone assembly unit is seeing a growing influence across the globe. More than four-fifths of the iPhones are assembled at the Karnataka facility and now shipped overseas, reported ET, citing sources.

Foxconn's Karnataka plant began operations by testing newer models and has already shifted to producing top-end devices for global markets within months of starting trial runs.

iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 16 Model Manufacturing in Karnataka

The factory had carried out the test production run in May this year, and now manufactures some of the latest and premium smartphones by the company. "The factory started testing production in April-May this year with iPhone 16 and now makes the latest iPhone 17 Pro Max models," ET quoted a person familiar with the matter.

The production facility has already begun the manufacturing of iPhones and is likely to reach its peak output next year with a work force of up to 50,000. Foxconn is investing around Rs 20,000 crore in this Devanahalli project, spread over about 300 acres. The new plant is expected to surpass Foxconn's first iPhone unit in Tamil Nadu, which now employs nearly 41,000 workers.

Apple iPhone Production in India

Multiple factors like the COVID lockdown and tensions with the United States, has forced leading companies to opt for 'China+1 plan for their manufacturing facilities. As companies, like Apple look for alternatives to China, India has become a central node in such firms' supply network.

For Apple, all current iPhone models are now assembled in India from the start and then shipped to markets worldwide, according to people following the company's local operations and export data.

Apple has increased its supplier base in India to almost 45 companies, covering local component manufacturers and sub-assembly specialists. The company works closely with partners to build skills and processes. Apple uses its own technical training modules, and new hires undergo six weeks of on-the-job training before joining full iPhone production lines. Foxconn's new site includes extensive manufacturing floor space to support these assembly lines.