Apple’s iPhone factories in India are operating round the clock to manufacture and ship the latest iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models ahead of their global sales launch on Friday.
A first for India-made Pro models on launch day
“Apple had flown large quantities of iPhones on charters over the last week ahead of the global launch. Apple is increasing manufacturing capabilities for the two premium models as it prepares to supply markets in the US and elsewhere from the first day of sales, the ET report added citing people familiar with the matter. The upcoming launch marks the second consecutive year that Apple will sell India-made iPhones on the first day of global sales. However, it is the first time that India-manufactured Pro and Pro Max models will be available from the start of sales, the report added. However, Apple is not manufacturing its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, in India.
More flights may be planned for taking iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models, mostly to the US,” a person familiar with the flight details said, according to the report. At present, two factories—one operated by Foxconn and another by Tata Electronics—are manufacturing the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models in India. Last year, India-made iPhone 17 models were available on launch day, while the Pro and Pro Max variants followed later.
India has emerged as the largest destination for Apple’s iPhone exports, particularly following tariffs imposed by the Donald Trump administration on Chinese manufacturing. The tech giant has increased iPhone production in India by approximately 53% last year and now manufactures around a quarter of its flagship devices in the country, according to a Bloomberg report in March. Government data cited in the report showed that Apple exported iPhones worth $7 billion to the US in 2024, a figure that nearly tripled to $19.2 billion in 2025.
