In a move that could expand iPhone manufacturer Apple Inc.'s footprint in India, the company has announced a partnership with the Tata Group to manage after-sales repairs for its iPhones and MacBook devices in the country. According to a report citing sources, the repairs will be conducted at Tata’s existing iPhone assembly campus located in Karnataka. Tata is taking over the repair mandate from ICT Service Management Solutions, the Indian arm of Taiwan’s Wistron.
While Apple’s authorized service centers across India handle basic repairs, devices requiring more complex servicing will now be shipped to Tata’s specialized facility. Wistron’s ICT unit will continue to provide services for its other clients, excluding Apple.
The announcement comes despite warnings from US President Donald Trump, who urged Apple CEO Tim Cook to manufacture iPhones intended for the US market domestically—or face a 25% tariff. This marks the second instance in which the US president publicly discouraged Apple from expanding its manufacturing base in India. On his Truth Social platform, Trump stated that he told Cook to ensure iPhones for American consumers are made in the US, not in India or anywhere else. In May 2025, during a business trip to Qatar, Trump reiterated his opposition to Apple increasing its investments in Indian manufacturing.
Tata Electronics has been emerging as a key player in Apple’s supply chain in India. The company acquired Wistron’s iPhone assembly facility in Narsapura, Karnataka, in March 2024, marking its entry into full-scale iPhone assembly. In early 2025—following reports of a deal in November 2024—Tata Electronics also acquired a controlling 60% stake in Pegatron Technology India, another Taiwanese Apple supplier.
Tata has since initiated iPhone assembly, including models from the iPhone 16 series, at its Hosur facility in Tamil Nadu. Now the company has ramped up its production ahead of iPhone 17 launch.
According to Counterpoint Research, approximately 11 million iPhones were sold in India last year, propelling Apple’s market share to 7%—a sharp rise from just 1% in 2020. India now ranks as the world’s second-largest smartphone market. Apple assembled $22 billion worth of iPhones in India in the 12 months ending March 2025—a 60% increase over the previous fiscal year. In March alone, iPhone exports from India reached approximately 3.1 million units.