Foxconn is said to double monthly AirPods production at its Hyderabad plant from 100,000 to 200,000 units.
The workforce will reportedly expand from 2,000 to 5,000 employees, with a total investment of Rs 4,800 crore.
Apple could be deepening its India manufacturing footprint as part of its strategy to diversify production beyond China.
Apple’s manufacturing partner Foxconn is set to double production of AirPods at its facility in Hyderabad, signalling a stronger push to localise manufacturing and diversify production outside China. According to a report from The Economic Times, Foxconn Interconnect Technology (FIT) will overhaul five existing production lines at its Kongara Kalan plant in Telangana to manufacture new AirPods models. The move will raise the facility’s output from 100,000 to around 200,000 units per month. Here’s what that means for Apple, the company and its Indian users.
SurveyDoubling production and workforce in FIT, Hyderabad
The Hyderabad plant, which began commercial production of AirPods in April. Besides the aforementioned production increase, the plant will also see its workforce expand from around 2,000 employees to nearly 5,000 within the next six to eight months. The expansion involves shifting some equipment from Foxconn’s Vietnam facilities and introducing new production lines to meet global demand.
FIT’s total investment in the Hyderabad plant is estimated to be Rs 4,800 crore, of which Rs 3,000 crore has already been invested. The site manufactures Apple wearables such as AirPods, along with components like connectors and cables for multiple brands.
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Here’s what this move means for Apple and Foxconn:
What this means for Apple
Apple has been steadily diversifying its global supply chain to reduce dependence on China. The company now produces several iPhone models in India and has moved assembly of its Vision Pro headset to Vietnam. The increased AirPods production from India will cater to our market, and others like the United States, where Indian-made electronics are currently exempted from import tariffs and Europe, and Europe where Indian-made electronics face moderate tariffs.
Apple’s broader India strategy appears to be gaining traction. As of October, iPhone exports from India reached a record $10 billion in the first half of the fiscal year, which is a 75% increase year-on-year. The growing scale of Indian operations underscores Apple’s effort to diversify its supply chain and reduce geopolitical risks.
Production at the Hyderabad facility had previously faced delays due to a global shortage of dysprosium, a rare earth metal used in the AirPods’ magnetic components. Supply issues eased in August after China relaxed export restrictions. The latest AirPods models in production include the AirPods 4, launched last year, and the AirPods Pro 3, introduced in September 2025.
What this means for India
For Indian consumers, it could mean avoiding dependency on international shipping and a faster availability of new AirPods models. Over time, this could potentially lead to more competitive pricing as local production scales up.
Foxconn’s investment also aligns with India’s push to become a global electronics manufacturing hub. As more Apple products move to Indian assembly lines, the ecosystem around components, logistics, and skilled labour continues to mature, potentially opening doors for suppliers and job creation in the region.
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G. S. Vasan
G.S. Vasan is the chief copy editor at Digit, where he leads coverage of TVs and audio. His work spans reviews, news, features, and maintaining key content pages. Before joining Digit, he worked with publications like Smartprix and 91mobiles, bringing over six years of experience in tech journalism. His articles reflect both his expertise and passion for technology. View Full Profile
