Foxconn has recalled several hundred Chinese engineers and technicians from its iPhone production plants in India over the past two months. Despite the large-scale withdrawal, sources say there will be no major impact on Apple’s manufacturing timelines or its expansion plans in the country.
The recall, which began around two months ago, has seen more than 300 Chinese staff leave Foxconn’s facilities in southern India. Industry insiders, however, confirmed that preparations for the iPhone 17 production remain steady, with Apple aiming for a significant scale-up in India-based manufacturing.
To maintain smooth operations, Foxconn has replaced the outgoing Chinese staff with professionals from Taiwan and Vietnam. According to Bloomberg, this workforce shift is not expected to affect the production quality or schedule, though there might be temporary drops in assembly line efficiency due to the transition.
Sources believe the recall is part of China’s wider strategy to limit the outflow of skilled labor and technology to countries like India and others in Southeast Asia. In response to this, Foxconn is adapting its processes by switching its machines from Chinese to English language systems and turning to alternate suppliers for capital goods.
Despite these changes, Apple’s manufacturing progress in India continues strongly. In FY25, the company produced iPhones worth $22 billion—a 60% increase over the previous year. Apple now plans to manufacture 60 million units in India this year, up from 35–40 million in 2024–25, according to PTI sources.
The Indian government has been informed about the departure of the Chinese workers but was not given any specific explanation for the decision. However, officials have stated that the current production levels remain unaffected. Apple is still on track to shift most of its US-bound iPhone production to India by the end of 2026.
The Apple manufacturing ecosystem in India has become a major employment driver, supporting around 200,000 jobs through various partner vendors. With export figures reaching ₹1.5 lakh crore in FY25, India has become a key location in Apple’s global strategy to diversify its supply chain.
While geopolitical tensions are reshaping how tech companies manage their global operations, Apple and Foxconn’s proactive measures show a strong commitment to ensuring that production targets are met and growth in India continues.
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