Foxconn Set to Double iPhone Production in India, Eyes 30 Million Units in 2025
Foxconn, Apple’s primary manufacturing partner, is preparing to more than double its iPhone production in India, targeting 25–30 million units in 2025, up from around 12 million in 2024, according to a report by The Economic Times. The company has begun limited-scale production trials at its Bengaluru facility to assess its ability to meet Apple’s high-quality standards at large volumes. Once the trials are successful, Foxconn will shift to the “revenue build” phase, where units produced will be shipped for both domestic and international markets. This ramp-up is aligned with recent policy support from the Indian government, including lower import duties on smartphone components under the Union Budget.
Apple’s increased focus on India highlights a major shift in global electronics manufacturing, as the tech giant works to diversify its supply chain amid tensions with China. The company is also laying plans to manufacture other products—such as iPads, MacBooks, and AirPods—in India and is boosting local hiring to support the transition. For non-Indian companies, this marks a critical development: India is fast emerging as a competitive, stable manufacturing alternative in Asia, offering strategic advantages for companies seeking to de-risk their operations from China-centric dependencies.
Editor’s Note: Foxconn plans to more than double its iPhone production in India to 25–30 million units in 2025, up from 12 million in 2024, with production trials already underway at its Bengaluru facility. This expansion aligns with Indian government incentives and reflects Apple’s strategy to diversify its supply chain amid China tensions. Apple is also exploring local manufacturing of other products like iPads, MacBooks, and AirPods, signaling India’s growing role as a global manufacturing hub.
India Considers Major Tariff Cuts on U.S. Imports Amid Trade Deal Talks
In a significant move to de-escalate rising trade tensions, India is open to cutting tariffs on over half of U.S. imports—valued at more than $23 billion—as part of an initial phase of a trade deal currently under negotiation. The proposal aims to avert the impact of impending reciprocal tariffs announced by the United States, which New Delhi estimates could affect up to 87% of its $66 billion in exports to the U.S. The South Asian nation is willing to substantially lower or eliminate duties ranging from 5% to 30% on a wide range of U.S. goods. This marks one of the biggest tariff reduction efforts by India in years, spurred by concerns over President Donald Trump’s tough global trade stance. However, Indian officials emphasized that any final decision depends on securing reciprocal concessions from Washington.
The negotiations, set to intensify with a U.S. delegation visit led by Assistant Trade Representative Brendan Lynch, follow Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s February visit to the U.S., where both sides agreed to pursue an early trade agreement. While India is also considering broader tariff reforms, such plans remain in early stages. For non-Indian companies, particularly those operating in or exporting to India, this development signals a potential shift toward a more liberalized trade environment. Lower import barriers on U.S. goods could increase competition in sectors like machinery, electrical equipment, and fuels, prompting global firms to reassess their pricing, supply chain strategies, and market positioning in the Indian economy.
Editor’s Note: India is considering major tariff cuts on over $23 billion worth of U.S. imports as part of trade deal talks aimed at easing tensions and avoiding U.S. reciprocal tariffs that could impact 87% of Indian exports. This move, one of India’s biggest tariff reduction efforts in years, could signal a shift toward a more liberalized trade environment, affecting global competition and market strategies in India.
India Slaps Samsung with $601 Million Tax Demand over Alleged Tariff Evasion
India has ordered Samsung and seven of its executives to pay a total of $601 million in back taxes and penalties, accusing the company of deliberately misclassifying telecom equipment imports to avoid tariffs. The demand, based on a confidential customs order reviewed by Reuters, includes $520 million in unpaid taxes and penalties, plus an additional $81 million in fines for top executives, including the network division’s vice president and the CFO. The components in question were sold to Reliance Jio, India’s largest telecom operator. Customs authorities found that Samsung “knowingly and intentionally” submitted false documentation and “transgressed all business ethics” in pursuit of profit. Samsung maintains it complied with Indian laws and is reviewing legal options.
This case highlights the growing scrutiny foreign companies face in India, especially regarding import classifications and compliance. Similar disputes have rocked other multinationals, such as Volkswagen, which is battling a $1.4 billion tax demand. As India sharpens its regulatory stance, global companies operating in the country must ensure airtight compliance to avoid costly entanglements and reputational damage.
Editor’s Note: India has issued a $601 million tax demand against Samsung and seven executives for allegedly misclassifying telecom equipment imports to evade tariffs, with components sold to Reliance Jio. Authorities claim Samsung knowingly submitted false documents, while the company insists it complied with laws and is exploring legal options. The case underscores increasing regulatory scrutiny on foreign firms in India, urging companies to prioritize compliance to avoid financial and reputational risks.
India Slashes Import Duties to Boost EV and Mobile Manufacturing Amid Trade Talks with US
In a significant move to strengthen its electric vehicle (EV) and mobile phone manufacturing sectors, the Indian government has removed import duties on 63 items, including raw materials and components critical to EV batteries and smartphones. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, ahead of the Finance Bill 2025 vote in Parliament, announced duty exemptions on 35 goods used in EV battery production and 28 items for mobile phone manufacturing. The announcement follows budget proposals to waive duties on key minerals like cobalt and lithium, aiming to bolster domestic cleantech production under the National Manufacturing Mission. This strategic push comes as India’s EV market, valued at $54.4 billion, is projected to more than double by 2030, driven by policy support and growing consumer adoption.
These measures also align with India’s ongoing trade negotiations with the United States, following President Donald Trump’s announcement of reciprocal tariffs effective April 2. In response, India is considering tariff reductions across sectors like gems, chemicals, and textiles, potentially impacting over half of $23 billion worth of US imports. A bilateral trade agreement is expected by autumn 2025, as both countries seek to resolve tariff disputes and enhance mutual market access. For non-Indian companies, especially in the EV and electronics supply chains, this policy shift presents expanded opportunities to supply raw materials and invest in India’s growing manufacturing ecosystem under more favorable terms.
https://inc42.com/buzz/govt-drops-import-duty-on-key-components-for-ev-batteries
Editor’s Note: India has removed import duties on 63 items, including key raw materials for EV batteries and smartphones, to boost domestic manufacturing and support its National Manufacturing Mission. This move aligns with trade talks with the U.S., as India considers broader tariff cuts to resolve disputes ahead of a potential bilateral agreement by autumn 2025. The policy shift opens new opportunities for global companies in EV and electronics supply chains to invest and operate in India under more favorable terms.
India Opens AI Kosh Platform to Private Sector, Seeks Anonymized Data for LLM Development
In a major push to advance its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, the Indian government on Tuesday invited private firms and startups to contribute anonymised, non-personal user datasets to its AI Kosh platform. The move is aimed at accelerating the development of AI applications in India, particularly in training large language models (LLMs), according to a senior government official. Companies such as Google, Uber, and PhonePe are among those encouraged to share anonymised usage patterns from their platforms, without revealing any personal or identifiable information. Public institutions like Open Data Telangana, Indian Council of Medical Research, and the Ministry of Jal Shakti are already contributing to the initiative, along with research organizations and non-profits such as Development Data Lab and i-Hub for Robotics and Autonomous Systems Innovation Foundation.
To streamline contributions, the government is releasing a standard expression of interest (EoI), allowing a wider set of companies to participate without direct, one-on-one discussions. Officials noted that high-value datasets—such as healthcare records, doctor prescriptions, and call center transcripts—are particularly useful for training conversational AI models. For global firms operating in India, this initiative presents a unique opportunity to shape the country’s AI ecosystem, tap into large-scale multilingual data environments, and collaborate on public-sector innovation with long-term commercial and research benefits.
Editor’s Note: India has opened its AI Kosh platform to private firms and startups, inviting them to contribute anonymized, non-personal datasets to support the development of large language models (LLMs). Major companies like Google and Uber are encouraged to share usage data, while public institutions and research groups are already participating. This initiative offers global firms a chance to influence India’s AI ecosystem, access large multilingual datasets, and collaborate on public-sector innovation with long-term benefits.
NIELIT Attains Deemed University Status, Signals New Era in Tech Education
The National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), long recognized for its leadership in digital skilling and capacity building, has achieved a major milestone by being granted deemed-to-be university status. This marks a pivotal transformation from a premier skilling institute to a full-fledged academic and research-driven institution. With this new status, NIELIT is poised to adopt a more structured, innovation-led approach to technology education, expanding its academic offerings and strengthening its role in shaping India’s digital future.
This development is especially significant for students from remote and underserved areas, including the Northeast, as it promises enhanced access to high-quality, industry-relevant education. For non-Indian companies, the rise of NIELIT as a university offers a stronger talent pipeline, increased collaboration opportunities in research and development, and a chance to partner with a growing academic ecosystem deeply aligned with digital transformation and emerging technologies.
Editor’s Note: NIELIT has been granted deemed university status, transforming it from a leading skilling institute into a research-driven academic institution focused on innovation-led technology education. This shift enhances access to quality education for students in underserved regions and strengthens industry-academia collaboration, offering global companies a robust talent pipeline and R&D opportunities. The ICC of TCA has a very close cooperation with NIELIT and played a key role in facilitating the MoU between NIELIT and the Computer Skills Foundation (CSF).