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Apple may make MacBooks and iPads in India, hints minister
India expects Apple to expand its manufacturing footprint beyond iPhones to include other hardware such as MacBooks and iPads, Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said. Google could also shift a significant…
India expects Apple to expand its manufacturing footprint beyond iPhones to include other hardware such as MacBooks and iPads, Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said. Google could also shift a significant share of its export-oriented device production from China to India, Vaishnaw added, as the company diversifies its supply chain.
The comments came as the government notified the Rs 62,500-crore Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS) for FY2026-27 to FY2030-31. The scheme offers incentives of 2.25% to 5% on eligible sales, with an additional 1.5% for domestic sourcing of components like display modules, camera modules, enclosures, batteries and USB cables. Indian smartphone brands get a 5% base incentive plus up to 3% for design and R&D.
The government expects three Indian smartphone brands to emerge with best-in-segment designs within 10 to 14 months. Mobile phone exports have grown 166 times between 2014 and 2025, and India is now the world's second-largest mobile phone manufacturer by volume.
Indian Opinion Analysis
All three sources reported the same ministerial statements and scheme details without significant slant. The Economic Times and its retail edition led with Apple's potential expansion beyond iPhones, framing the story as an investor-friendly growth narrative. Times Now gave equal weight to Indian brand development and the scheme's R&D focus, reflecting its domestic-innovation lens. No source challenged the government's claims about export growth or localisation. A careful reader should note that the scheme's success depends on actual corporate commitments, which have not been formally announced beyond Vaishnaw's hints. The next milestone is the emergence of the three promised Indian smartphone brands within 14 months.
Coverage: 3 sources, 3 neutral
Sources (3): economictimes.indiatimes.com (neutral report), retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com (neutral report), timesnownews.com (neutral report)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 3 sources.
