NEW DELHI: Apple is set to produce its most expensive iPhone Pro and Pro Max models in India for the first time this year, marking a significant milestone for both the tech giant and India's manufacturing sector.

Foxconn Technology Group, a key partner for Apple, will begin assembling the new iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max devices in India just weeks after their global launch, Bloomberg reported while citing sources familiar with the matter. The company has reportedly initiated training for thousands of workers at its factory in Tamil Nadu while synchronising the production of these flagship models with their worldwide debut.

This development is a major leap forward in Apple's efforts to diversify its manufacturing base beyond China, where the majority of its iPhones are still produced.

The shift comes amid escalating tensions between Beijing and Washington, which have prompted Apple to explore alternative production hubs.

India has emerged as a focal point in this strategy amid the financial incentives launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government designed to attract high-end manufacturing to the country.
In the fiscal year through March 2024, Apple assembled $14 billion worth of iPhones in India, which now accounts for up to 14 per cent of the company's global output.

The India-made standard iPhone 16 is expected to be available on the same day as its global release, Bloomberg report added. 
In addition to Foxconn, other Apple partners in India, including Pegatron Corp. and the Tata Group, are also expected to start manufacturing the Pro versions in the near future. These higher-end models, which feature larger batteries, enhanced cameras, and titanium bodies, require more specialised production processes.