Overview

• Apple CEO Tim Cook has stated that U.S. iPhone assembly will begin once advanced robotic arms capable of precise, high-volume work become available.
• Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed that Apple is committed to domestic manufacturing but requires automation to offset high labor costs.
• India's iPhone production is expanding rapidly, with Tata launching a new facility and Foxconn investing $2.6 billion in a Bengaluru plant expected to produce both older and latest models.
• China remains the primary manufacturing hub for iPhones, but Apple's diversification strategy aims to reduce reliance on the country and avoid U.S. tariffs.
• Chinese export restrictions on manufacturing machinery are slowing India's production growth, complicating Apple's supply chain shift.