Apple Ramps Up AirPods Production in India, Foxconn to Double Capacity [Report]

A Foxconn subsidiary in India is set to double its AirPods production, with output climbing to about 200,000 units per month and staffing expanding from roughly 2,000 to 5,000 workers. The Economic Times reports the move represents a total investment of around Rs 4,800 crore (about $575 million), as machinery from Foxconn's Vietnam operations is shifted to its plant in Kongara Kalan, near Hyderabad.

The facility, run by Foxconn Interconnect Technology (FIT), is overhauling five production lines to handle new models, including the recently released AirPods Pro 3. The upgrade forms part of Apple's ongoing push to strengthen its audio supply chain, which now covers the AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 2, and other devices.

Production had slowed earlier this year due to a shortage of dysprosium — a rare earth element used in AirPods components — but the bottleneck eased in August after China relaxed export restrictions. Apple's supplier base in India has been expanding quickly, with 45 local companies now contributing to iPhone and accessory manufacturing.


FIT's expansion in Kongara Kalan is part of a broader $550 million project announced in 2023 that's expected to create up to 24,000 jobs and turn the region into a hub for audio device production. The plant will serve both domestic demand and export markets in the U.S. and Europe.

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