Foxconn Pulls Chinese Engineers From India, Disrupting Apple's iPhone 17 Push [Report]

Key Apple supplier Foxconn is reportedly pulling hundreds of Chinese engineers and technicians from its iPhone factories in India, a move that could disrupt Apple's major manufacturing push in the country, according to a new report from Bloomberg.
People familiar with the matter say the bulk of Foxconn's Chinese staff at its southern India plants were told to return home starting about two months ago. More than 300 Chinese workers have reportedly left, while mostly support staff from Taiwan remain, creating a gap in experienced personnel. The timing is particularly challenging as Apple and its partners ramp up preparations for the new iPhone 17.

The reasons for the withdrawal aren't entirely clear, but the move comes after officials in Beijing verbally encouraged regulatory agencies to curb technology transfers and equipment exports to India. Apple CEO Tim Cook has often highlighted the skill of Chinese assembly workers as key to the company's manufacturing success. Their removal will slow the training of the local workforce and the transfer of manufacturing technology from China, likely raising production costs, the people said.

This presents a fresh challenge for Apple's strategy to expand manufacturing in India. The company aims to have most iPhones sold in the U.S. made in India by late 2026. That effort is backed by major investments, including a recent $1.5 billion injection from Foxconn into its Indian operations and the construction of a new factory for iPhone enclosures.


The manufacturing shift has also drawn the attention of the White House. President Donald Trump recently threatened tariffs of at least 25% on iPhones not made in the U.S. and has publicly stated that he told CEO Tim Cook to stop building iPhones in India and move production to the U.S. instead.

Foxconn did not respond to Bloomberg's request for comment, and Apple declined to comment.