Apple to make even more AirPods in India as Hyderabad factory expands

AirPods

Apple is doubling down on its “Make in India” plans — this time with its popular AirPods. The tech giant’s manufacturing partner, Foxconn Interconnect Technology (FIT), is expanding production at its facility near Hyderabad, marking another big step in Apple’s India strategy.

The Hyderabad plant, located in Kongara Kalan, only began commercial AirPods production in April this year. But with global demand rising, Apple now wants to scale up quickly. According to reports, the factory is preparing to double its production capacity from around one lakh units per month to nearly two lakh in the coming months. To achieve that, FIT will upgrade five production lines and even shift some equipment from Vietnam to India.

This rapid expansion also means more jobs. The Hyderabad facility currently employs about 2,000 people, but that number could go up to 5,000 within the next six to eight months. The project is backed by a hefty investment — roughly ₹4,800 crore, of which over ₹3,000 crore has already been spent.

The move underscores Apple’s growing confidence in India as a key manufacturing hub. Over the past few years, Apple has steadily reduced its dependence on China by expanding production in India through partners like Foxconn, Pegatron, and Wistron. The results are showing — in the first half of 2025, Apple exported around $10 billion worth of iPhones from India, a 75 percent jump compared to last year.

The Hyderabad factory’s location — just 15 kilometres from the airport — also makes it ideal for both domestic distribution and exports to markets like the US and Europe.

While neither Apple nor Foxconn has made an official statement on the latest expansion, industry watchers see this as a major boost for India’s electronics sector. The move not only strengthens Apple’s supply chain but also creates thousands of new local jobs and brings high-end manufacturing closer to home.

With AirPods production scaling up and iPhone exports rising fast, Apple’s India story is clearly just getting started.