Foxconn to Invest $1.5B in India Amid Trump Pressure on Apple

Apple’s top supplier, Foxconn (Hon Hai Precision Industry, TW:2317), is pushing forward with a major expansion in India, despite calls from U.S. President Donald Trump for Apple to return manufacturing to the United States. According to the Financial Times, Foxconn plans to invest $1.5 billion in a new display module factory in Tamil Nadu, South India, as confirmed by two Indian government officials.

Earlier this week, Foxconn officially announced the $1.5 billion investment into its Indian unit. The move comes on the heels of another green-lit project—a $450 million chip assembly plant in Uttar Pradesh, North India. These investments are part of Foxconn's broader strategy to diversify its supply chain beyond China, where Apple still manufactures the majority of its devices.

India is rapidly emerging as a key alternative production hub for Apple, alongside Vietnam and Malaysia. Recent reports suggest that Apple intends to shift a significant portion of its iPhone production to India, potentially supplying all U.S.-bound iPhones from there in the near future. This shift is largely driven by rising tariffs on Chinese goods under Trump-era policies.

However, Trump has publicly criticized Apple’s move to India, urging CEO Tim Cook to prioritize American manufacturing. “We are not interested in you building in India,” Trump reportedly told Cook, highlighting the political tension surrounding Apple’s global production strategy.

Apple is also under scrutiny for its deep ties to China, both in supply chain operations and market reliance. Trump has reportedly expressed concern over Apple’s collaboration with Chinese tech giant Alibaba (NYSE:BABA) to integrate its AI models into iPhones sold in China.

These developments signal a significant geopolitical shift in tech manufacturing and supply chain localization strategies.