Foxconn departs over 300 Chinese engineers and technicians from India’s iPhone factory amid iPhone 17 series launch

Foxconn departs Chinese staff: Foxconn Chinese engineers exited India after more than 300 staff members were recalled from its southern iPhone factories, marking a significant disruption to Apple's manufacturing push.

The move, reportedly triggered by Chinese restrictions on skilled labour exports, jeopardises the critical ramp-up of iPhone 17 production in India. Although Taiwanese personnel remain, experts warn that line efficiency may dip during this transition.

With Apple aiming to shift a major chunk of the U.S.-bound iPhone manufacturing to India by late 2026, the departure challenges its ambitious supply chain diversification amid rising geopolitical tensions.

Stay tuned as we unpack the implications of this sudden labour reshuffle and how it could impact Apple's global production plans.


According to the Bloomberg story, it is unclear why Foxconn, Apple's largest iPhone assembler, based in China, is transferring employees back to their home countries.

The action, however, follows months after Beijing officials orally urged local governments and regulatory bodies to restrict technology transfers and equipment exports to India and Southeast Asia in an apparent attempt to stop businesses from moving their production facilities abroad.

Apple, which is getting ready to increase production of its upcoming iPhone 17 with its manufacturing partners in India, is disadvantaged due to the move.

Currently, Foxconn is constructing a second production facility in India. The company's action, however, follows Beijing's efforts to make it more difficult for technology, skilled labour, and specialised equipment to leave China and move to manufacturing upstarts like Vietnam, India, and other nations that are profiting from the US-China tensions that have caused businesses to relocate their manufacturing.



Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, has praised the ability and knowledge of Chinese assembly workers, stating that they are the main factor in establishing Chinese manufacturing facilities.

According to Bloomberg, which cited its sources, their decision to remove India may signal a change in the iPhone manufacturing process since it will slow down the training of local employees.

The change may also impact industrial technology transfer, which could result in higher production costs. One of the sources claims that although the action won't affect the calibre of Indian production, it will probably affect assembly line productivity.

Foxconn employees in India have benefited greatly from the training provided by Chinese managers. Just four years ago, South Asian countries started mass-producing iPhones, and today, they produce one-fifth of the world's supply.