Foxconn has hired nearly 30,000 workers over the past nine months at its new iPhone assembly facility near Bengaluru, achieving one of India’s fastest factory build-outs. Located on a 300-acre campus in Devanahalli, the plant began test production with iPhone 16 models in April-May 2025 and now assembles iPhone 17 Pro Max units. Over 80% of output heads for export, solidifying India’s role in Apple’s global supply chain diversification from China.
Workforce Demographics and Infrastructure Scale
The facility employs around 80% women, mostly first-time workers aged 19-24, with six large dormitories operational and more under construction. At peak capacity next year, employment could reach 50,000, potentially housing more women workers at one site than any other Indian public or private entity. Migrants from neighboring states receive free accommodation, subsidized meals, and average ₹18,000 monthly salaries—among the highest for blue-collar women in manufacturing.
Foxconn invests close to ₹20,000 crore in the project, planning up to a dozen assembly lines versus four currently. The campus will evolve into a mini-township with residential, medical, educational, and recreational facilities, surpassing Foxconn’s Tamil Nadu iPhone plant in scale.
Apple’s India Supply Chain Expansion
All iPhone 17 models assemble in India for global export, backed by nearly 45 supplier companies handling components, sub-assemblies, and logistics. New recruits complete six weeks of on-the-job training to build skills across the ecosystem. The Production-Linked Incentive scheme, launched in 2021, supports this shift amid geopolitical tensions.
Bengaluru leverages its Silicon Valley status to attract electronics manufacturing, positioning India as a China alternative. The Devanahalli facility accelerates Apple’s target of 25% global iPhone production from India by 2028.
Economic and Employment Impact
The ramp-up creates direct and indirect jobs in Karnataka’s manufacturing corridor, boosting local economies through worker spending and supplier networks. Women dominate the workforce, addressing gender gaps in industrial employment while formalizing blue-collar careers with structured training and benefits.
Foxconn’s investment signals confidence in India’s PLI framework and labor availability. The plant’s export focus strengthens forex inflows and elevates Devanahalli as a high-tech manufacturing hub.
GCCs and electronics firms gain from maturing infrastructure, skilled labor pools, and policy support. Karnataka’s ecosystem positions it to capture more ATMP and semiconductor-linked opportunities.
