Quick Take
- Tata Electronics exported iPhones worth $26.3 Bn (Rs 2,51,165 Cr) over FY22 to FY26, topping Foxconn.
- Foxconn trailed at $25.6 Bn (Rs 2,44,480 Cr) in exports, despite a five-year head start from 2019.
- Foxconn still leads total production at $38 Bn; Tata holds a 46.01% combined production share.
In This Article
Tata Electronics has overtaken Foxconn to become India’s largest iPhone exporter, shipping devices worth $26.3 Bn (Rs 2,51,165 Cr) between FY22 and FY26 against Foxconn’s $25.6 Bn (Rs 2,44,480 Cr), according to vendor data submitted to the government.
The shift marks a milestone for India’s electronics sector. The Tata Group firm entered iPhone assembly only after buying a 100% stake in Wistron in November 2023, per Business Standard. In three years it has closed the gap with a rival that started work in 2019, well before the production linked incentive (PLI) scheme began.
StartupFeed Insight
The export lead matters more than the headline suggests. Exports made up 73.6% of all iPhone value assembled in India over the PLI window, so leading here means Tata Electronics owns the segment Apple cares about most: shipments to the US and Ireland. Foxconn’s overall lead rests on a bigger domestic slice, a lower-value business. Watch Apple’s sourcing managers and rival contract makers. Tata has publicly targeted $30 Bn in revenue within five years and is investing Rs 1.26 trillion in chips. We expect Tata Electronics to cross a 50% combined production share by the end of FY27. By Soumya Verma.
iPhone Export Breakdown: Tata Electronics vs Foxconn
Tata Electronics led iPhone exports from India by value across the full PLI scheme period. Government vendor data pegged its five-year export figure at $26.3 Bn (Rs 2,51,165 Cr), ahead of Foxconn’s $25.6 Bn (Rs 2,44,480 Cr). Exports were the biggest driver of Apple’s India operations, making up 73.6% of total iPhone value assembled in the country, Business Standard reported.
| Metric | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone Exports (Tata) | $26.3 Bn (Rs 2,51,165 Cr) | Largest exporter, FY22 to FY26 |
| iPhone Exports (Foxconn) | $25.6 Bn (Rs 2,44,480 Cr) | Second place despite 2019 start |
| Total Production (Tata) | $35.5 Bn (Rs 3,39,025 Cr) | 46.01% combined share |
| Total Production (Foxconn) | $38 Bn (Rs 3,62,900 Cr) | Overall leader, exports plus domestic |
| Direct Employees (Tata) | 62,000 | Up from 19,000 in FY23 |
| Direct Employees (Foxconn) | 69,000 | Gap narrowing each year |
The most striking number is employment. In FY23, Foxconn had 40,000 direct workers to Tata’s 19,000. That gap has now shrunk to 69,000 against 62,000.
About Tata Electronics
Tata Electronics, part of the Tata Group and led by CEO Randhir Thakur, is India’s largest homegrown electronics manufacturer. It runs assembly and component plants near Hosur (Tamil Nadu), Narasapura (Karnataka), and Chengalpattu (Tamil Nadu). It became the first Indian firm to assemble iPhones after acquiring Wistron in 2023, later adding a majority stake in Pegatron. Revenue reached Rs 66,601 crore in FY25, a ninefold jump over the prior year.
How Did Tata Electronics Overtake Foxconn?
Tata Electronics overtook Foxconn through acquisitions, geopolitics, and fast capacity expansion. Buying Wistron in 2023 lifted its iPhone production value share from 26% to 44% in one move. A 60% stake in Pegatron in 2024 added more scale, while its greenfield Hosur plant, built with Apple support, expanded assembly lines toward a six-line target.
“This is not just one company winning a race. It is a strong signal that India’s electronics sector is becoming truly self-reliant and globally competitive,” said Girish Linganna, space and defence analyst.
The Galwan border clash in 2022 pushed Apple to rethink bringing its Chinese supply chain to India. That opened space for a domestic player. Tata now even exports iPhone casings to China, a reverse trade flow that was near unthinkable a few years ago.
Why Does Foxconn Still Lead Overall?
Foxconn still leads total iPhone production in India because of its stronger domestic business. Its total production value hit $38 Bn (Rs 3,62,900 Cr) over FY22 to FY26, against Tata’s $35.5 Bn (Rs 3,39,025 Cr). Foxconn assembled $12.4 Bn (Rs 1,18,420 Cr) of iPhones for the home market, nearly double Tata’s $6.3 Bn (Rs 60,165 Cr) domestic output.
| Dimension | Tata Electronics | Foxconn |
|---|---|---|
| Exports (value) | $26.3 Bn | $25.6 Bn |
| Domestic (value) | $6.3 Bn | $12.4 Bn |
| India investment commitment | Rs 1.26 trillion | Rs 36,000 Cr |
Foxconn also holds an edge in overall India revenue and in its Karnataka mega plant near Bengaluru. What sets Tata apart is its semiconductor bet, with fab and assembly plants driving a far larger investment commitment.
What’s Next
Tata Electronics aims to reach $30 Bn (Rs 2,86,500 Cr) in revenue within five years, backed by its Rs 1.26 trillion investment in chips through fab and ATMP plants in Gujarat and Assam. FY26 full-year assembly data will show whether the export lead holds as Foxconn scales its Karnataka plant toward 20 million units a year. Which player will control India’s iPhone output by 2028?
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a tip? Write to us at editorial@startupfeed.in.
