Foxconn Interconnect Technology (FIT), the Hyderabad-based subsidiary of Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn, is gearing up for a major expansion of its Apple AirPods manufacturing operations over the next six to eight months, according to a report by The Economic Times.
Citing people familiar with the matter, ET reported that FIT plans to increase both its workforce and production capacity at its Kongara Kalan facility, which began commercial production of AirPods in April this year. The company is in the process of relocating machinery from its Vietnam facilities as part of Foxconn's strategy to diversify manufacturing beyond China.
FIT will revamp five existing production lines to accommodate new AirPods models and align capacity with global demand. Once the expansion is complete, monthly output at the Hyderabad plant is expected to reach around 200,000 AirPods-up from the current estimate of over 100,000, the report said.
The development aligns with Apple's broader push to strengthen its manufacturing base in India. ET noted that Apple exported iPhones worth a record $10 billion from India in the first half of the current fiscal year, a 75% jump from $5.71 billion in the same period last year.
One of the people cited told ET that the factory's current workforce of about 2,000 employees is likely to rise to 5,000 within the next six to eight months. The total investment in the facility is pegged at Rs 4,800 crore, of which over Rs 3,000 crore has already been deployed. "This used machinery is coming from FIT's Vietnam facility. I think one or two lines will be new because they are still expanding," the person said.
Neither FIT nor Apple responded to ET's queries.
In July, ET had reported that AirPods production at the Telangana plant had temporarily slowed due to a shortage of dysprosium, a rare earth metal whose exports were restricted by China. The bottleneck eased in August after Beijing relaxed its curbs. FIT's Hyderabad plant currently manufactures the latest AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3 models, launched in September 2024 and September 2025 respectively.
The facility is part of Foxconn's broader $550-million investment plan announced in May 2023 for its Kongara Kalan site, which aims to generate 24,000 jobs. The project, led by Chang Yi Interconnect Technology (India) Pvt Ltd, focuses on producing Apple accessories with an initial investment of $150 million and approval for an additional $400 million.
Besides AirPods, FIT manufactures various wearables, connectors, and cables for multiple brands. Its Hyderabad facility-located about 15 km from the city's airport-serves as a new hub for audio device manufacturing and aims to supply markets in India, the US, and Europe.
As ET highlighted, the investment underscores Foxconn's commitment to diversifying its global supply chain and strengthening India's role in electronics manufacturing. FIT has been operating in Vietnam for over 16 years and continues to expand operations there, even as the Hyderabad facility becomes a cornerstone of its new global production strategy.
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