Foxconn, a major contract manufacturer for Apple, is reportedly planning to expand its operations in India to include assembling iPads, with the Taiwanese company considering using its factory in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, to make Apple’s popular tablet, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The Economic Times reports that discussions have already taken place with the Indian government and that the initial response has been positive. The move would mark a significant expansion of Foxconn’s current operations in India, which have so far been primarily focused on assembling iPhones.
Industry experts point out that the capacity required to produce iPads is similar to that used to assemble smartphones, making this a logical next step for Foxconn’s India operations.The expansion is in line with Apple’s strategy to diversify its supply chain away from China, which has accelerated in recent years.
Assembly of the iPad in India is expected to begin in the second half of 2025, sources told the Economic Times, a timeline that would allow Foxconn to benefit from India’s production-linked incentive (PLI) regime for IT hardware, including tablets.
Foxconn’s plans for India go beyond assembling iPads: the company recently announced it would invest 12 billion rupees in a new factory on land it owns, and is also building a megafactory near Bengaluru that will focus on making iPhones.
While iPad assembly appears to be on the horizon, production of Mac laptops in India may take longer due to more complex manufacturing requirements. Foxconn is also working with Google to manufacture Pixel smartphones in India and is exploring the possibility of manufacturing AI servers at its Indian facilities, further diversifying its product lineup in India.
