It’s official: made in India iPhones are on its way

Bengaluru: Apple will soon start making iPhones in India and they will come out of a factory in Bengaluru. The Karnataka government on Thursday issued a release welcoming Apple's proposal "to commence initial manufacturing operations" in the state.

In December, that Apple had finalized Bengaluru as the assembling location.

The release, signed by state IT minister Priyank Kharge, said Apple's intentions to manufacture in Bengaluru "will foster cutting edge technology ecosystem and supply chain development in the state, which are critical for India to compete globally." Though it did not provide a timeline, production is expected to begin in June.

India will be the third country globally to assemble iPhones. The release said state ministers and officials had met with several senior Apple executives including Cupertino-based Priya Balasubramaniam, VP - iPhone operations, Dheeraj Chugh, director - iPhone operations, and Ali Khanafer, senior manager - government affairs (India and Middle East).

Taiwanese company Wistron, an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of Apple, will make the iPhones out of its facility in the city's industrial hub of Peenya. The government said discussions are on with Apple for collaborations in other areas too.

Gujarat, Maharasthra and Telangana too were competing for the Apple facility.