Foxconn Will Double AirPod Production In India, Workforce Doubles

Illustration of AirPods to be made in India (photo: x @Tenshi_Flower)

JAKARTA - Taiwanese manufacturing giant Foxconn plans to double AirPods production capacity in India in the next few months. This move is part of Apple's great efforts to expand its supply chain outside China and strengthen India's position as a production center for personal audio devices.

According to a report by the Economic Times, a subsidiary of Foxconn Interconnect Technology (FIT) will expand its production facilities in Hyderabad, precisely in the Kalan Conglomerate area. The factory has started mass production of AirPods since April 2025 and is now ready to increase its capacity significantly.

Production capacity is currently estimated at more than 100,000 pairs of AirPods per month. With a new expansion plan, the plant will produce about 200,000 units per month nearly double the previous output.

This capacity building process is scheduled to last for six to eight months, with the target of completion by early 2026. A number of production machines have been sent from Foxconn facilities in Vietnam to India, while the five existing production lines will be changed to support the assembly of various recent AirPods models.

In addition to capacity building, the number of workers in the factory will also increase sharply. Of the current 2,000 workers, the number of employees will increase to around 5,000 after the expansion is completed.

This move is part of Apple's diversification strategy to reduce dependence on China, as well as protect supply chains from global disruption such as trade wars and pandemics. In April 2025, AirPods production in India was disrupted as China temporarily suspended exports of rare earth minerals such as the dysprosium, which is important for audio components. New production returns to normal after exports reopened in August.

Foxconn has previously committed to building $550 million in facilities in Kongara Kalan since 2023, targeting to create 24,000 jobs and make the region a global audio production center. Apart from AirPods and accessories, the factory will also produce components and cables for various other companies.

The expansion of AirPods production in India is not only carried out by Foxconn. In May 2025, the company that manufactures AirPods, Jabil, also announced plans to expand its production capacity through a new facility in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu.

These measures emphasize Apple's major shift towards a Made in India' strategy, which not only strengthens local economic positions, but also accelerates India's ambition to become a global manufacturing force in the high-tech sector.