Tata Surpasses Foxconn as Apple’s Largest Manufacturer in India

Tata Electronics has overtaken Foxconn to become Apple’s largest contract manufacturer in India, employing about 75,000 workers—up from just 15,000 two years ago—thanks to acquisitions of Wistron and Pegatron’s local operations and rapid expansion at its Hosur plant in Tamil Nadu.

Foxconn however is longstanding global partner of Apple and still a major assembler of iPhones in India. With its new Sriperumbudur (Tamil Nadu) facility and a massive upcoming plant in Devanahalli, Bengaluru, Foxconn is expected to regain ground once these new facility scales.

Foxconn's new Bengaluru plant likely to challenge Tata’s lead later in 2026. Wistron and Pegatron have been absorbed into Tata, consolidating Apple’s India supply chain.

India’s role in Apple’s global strategy is expanding rapidly, with iPhone exports hitting $23 billion in 2025 and continuing to grow.  

• Tata Electronics Workforce: ~75,000 employees (2026), up from 15,000 in 2023
• Foxconn Workforce: Currently smaller in India, but expected to rise once its Devanahalli, Bengaluru plant ramps up
• Facilities: Tata’s growth driven by its 500-acre Hosur plant (Tamil Nadu) plus acquisitions of Wistron and Pegatron’s India operations
• Apple’s India Strategy: India now produces ~55 million iPhones annually, accounting for 14% of global output
• Exports: iPhones made in India contributed ₹2 lakh crore in FY26 exports, India’s single largest branded export

Factor	Tata Electronics	Foxconn
Employees (India)	~75,000	Fewer, but expanding
Major Sites	Hosur (Tamil Nadu), Wistron & Pegatron facilities	Sriperumbudur (Tamil Nadu), upcoming Devanahalli (Bengaluru)
Growth Driver	Acquisitions + aggressive hiring	New mega plant under construction
Apple Role	Largest India contract manufacturer	Longstanding global partner, temporarily second in India

• Temporary Lead: Tata’s dominance is by headcount; Foxconn’s upcoming Bengaluru plant could reclaim the top spot
• Execution Challenges: Rapid expansion risks operational inefficiencies if not managed carefully
• Global Competition: India still lags China in local value addition (15–20% vs. China’s 40%). Scaling beyond assembly into semiconductors and advanced packaging will be critical

To summarize, Tata’s rise marks a turning point in India’s electronics manufacturing story, positioning it as Apple’s strongest local partner. But the contest with Foxconn is far from settled—2026 will likely see intense competition as both firms expand capacity in India.

The information above is first reported by the Economic Times based (April 30, 2026) based on industry sources directly involved in Apple’s India supply chain, including executives familiar with Tata Electronics’ hiring surge and Apple’s contract manufacturing arrangements.