Apple will launch iPhone Pro in India for the first time this year.

Apple plans to further expand its smartphone production in India. The company will soon begin producing iPhone Pro models in this country, the MacRumors portal reported, citing the local resource MoneyControl.

Apple began producing smartphones in India in 2017 with the iPhone SE, and until then it was limited to launching basic models. At first, production started several months after their global release, and starting with the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models, new items entered production in advance. So, fresh, locally assembled iPhones were sold in India from day one of the global launch.

Apple is reportedly planning to start producing the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max in the country later this year. The iPhone 16 Pro models will be assembled by longtime Apple partner Foxconn at its plant in Sriperumbudur (Tamil Nadu). The plant will soon begin the new product introduction (NPI) process, and mass production of new iPhone models is planned to begin immediately after the devices are released.

The launch comes as part of Apple’s strategy to diversify its supply chain outside of China and expand manufacturing capabilities in India. The company reportedly plans to increase the share of smartphones manufactured in India from 14% to 25% over the next few years.

The Indian government uses a number of incentives to attract large manufacturers to the country. Apple is investing heavily in expanding production and, in anticipation of strong demand for the iPhone 16 series of smartphones, plans to produce 90 million units in 2024, which is 10% more than the iPhone 15.

Earlier, there were reports about Apple’s plans to start producing iPad tablets and AirPods headphones in India.