Phones Made in India: How Local Manufacturing Is Shaping the Future
History of Mobile Manufacturing in India
The journey of mobile production in India began slowly when the early market was dominated by imported devices. Most consumers relied on foreign brands because the ecosystem for local production was still limited. Things changed when the government launched the Make in India initiative, encouraging companies to set up facilities and bring technology into the country. This period marked the growth of several Phones made in India as brands explored local assembly rather than depending entirely on imports. The introduction of the Phased Manufacturing Programme strengthened the shift by creating responsibilities for companies to gradually localise components such as chargers, batteries and circuit boards. This foundation gave the industry a stable platform to grow into a major contributor to the national economy.
Growth of the Indian Mobile Manufacturing Sector
Mobile production expanded rapidly once global brands noticed the potential of India as a manufacturing hub. Companies like Samsung, Xiaomi and Apple established some of their largest plants within the country. This development contributed to a sharp rise in devices produced annually and transformed India into the world's largest mobile manufacturer. The sector advanced further when the Production Linked Incentive scheme encouraged increased volume and investment. As a result, India began exporting smartphones in large quantities and improving domestic availability. The competition also supported the development of Mobile companies in India which focused on delivering affordable devices while promoting local manufacturing. This stage of growth also saw a rise in component development, enabling more sophisticated production capabilities than simple assembly.
Current Status of Mobile Manufacturing in India
Today India has a strong presence in global manufacturing networks with large scale factories producing devices for domestic and international markets. Several companies operate advanced facilities that support mass production and increase the share of locally assembled devices. Apple now manufactures a growing percentage of its iPhones within the country through its supply partners. Samsung runs one of the biggest facilities in the world, while Xiaomi continues to invest in expanding its network. A rising number of Indian smartphone brands are also improving quality and scaling production to compete with global players. Government policies like the Make in India mobile policy and the PLI scheme have encouraged deeper localisation, particularly in components such as displays, batteries and printed circuit boards. India has therefore reduced import dependency while strengthening its position in the global supply chain.
Future Outlook for Mobile Manufacturing in India
The future of Mobile manufacturing India appears promising due to strong domestic demand, growing exports and sustained government support. The next stage involves developing a complete component ecosystem, including semiconductors and advanced materials, which will reduce dependence on international suppliers. As companies diversify their global operations, India is expected to gain greater significance as a stable and scalable production base. The country is likely to witness continued growth in premium devices as Make in India mobiles become more widespread in global markets. With increasing investment, improved skills and expanding infrastructure, India is on course to become a leading force in the global mobile manufacturing landscape.
Top Brands Manufacturing in India
India has become a major global hub for mobile production, and some of the world’s biggest mobile companies in India have significantly expanded their local operations. Driven by rising demand, government incentives and the push toward Make in India mobiles, brands now rely heavily on phone assembly India facilities and deep component localisation. As a result, a large share of phones made in India now includes both budget and premium models. Several Indian smartphone brands have also strengthened the ecosystem by partnering with local suppliers and contributing to the growth of mobile manufacturing India.
The following sections explore how each top brand contributes to the expanding infrastructure of mobile production India, the level of localisation achieved and their long-term manufacturing strategies.
Samsung
Samsung is one of the largest contributors to local manufacturing mobile infrastructure in the country. Its Noida factory, often highlighted in discussions about Samsung manufacturing India, is among the world’s biggest smartphone production units. This facility plays a crucial role in producing India made smartphones across various price segments.
Samsung’s long term strategy revolves around increasing local value addition. The company has invested heavily in display manufacturing and battery assembly, strengthening the broader ecosystem of mobile manufacturing India. By expanding capacity and supporting export-oriented production, Samsung not only serves the domestic market but also positions India as a competitive global base for smartphone manufacturing.
Its commitment aligns with the goals of the Make in India mobile policy, and the company continues to scale manufacturing to meet both domestic and international demand.
Xiaomi
Xiaomi played a transformational role in building the foundation for mobile companies in India when it rapidly expanded Xiaomi India factory partnerships. The brand began with basic assembly but soon advanced to deeper localisation, becoming one of the largest producers of phones made in India.
Xiaomi’s factories produce a wide range of budget and mid-range devices, strengthening availability of Make in India mobiles for millions of consumers. The brand also actively participates in the PLI scheme mobile phones, allowing it to ramp up production volumes and enhance the competitiveness of mobile manufacturing India.
By collaborating with multiple contract manufacturers, Xiaomi has ensured consistent production capacity and contributed to employment generation across states such as Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
Vivo
Vivo has significantly invested in expanding mobile production India, with a large manufacturing campus that handles everything from assembly to quality testing. The company is known for relying heavily on phone assembly India units that produce millions of smartphones annually for domestic consumption.
Vivo’s manufacturing plans include additional investment for future expansion, demonstrating its long term commitment to the Indian market. Its contribution also supports the growth of local manufacturing mobile components, as the company continues to localise chargers, batteries and other accessories.
With a strong portfolio of mid range devices, Vivo plays an important role in boosting the volume of India made smartphones and strengthening India’s position in the global smartphone value chain.
OPPO
OPPO has emerged as a major investor in mobile manufacturing India, building one of the country’s largest smartphone production hubs. The OPPO facility not only produces its own devices but also supports production for Realme and OnePlus, contributing massively to mobile companies in India that rely on shared manufacturing ecosystems.
Its factory is known for sophisticated assembly lines, deep localisation and advanced testing processes. OPPO’s expansion plans aim to further increase domestic production capacity and support exports to neighbouring regions.
The brand’s commitment to the Make in India mobile policy is reflected through consistent investments in R&D, local employment and value addition, all of which strengthen India’s long-term manufacturing capabilities.
Apple
Apple has rapidly expanded Apple iPhone made in India production through contract manufacturers such as Foxconn, Wistron and Pegatron. What began as an assembly of older models has now evolved into large-scale manufacturing of newer iPhone generations, positioning India as a key alternative to China for Apple’s global supply chain.
Apple’s investments align strongly with the PLI scheme for an mobile phones, and the company is expected to significantly increase output over the coming years. The expansion of Apple’s manufacturing footprint has encouraged several component suppliers to enter the Indian market, which supports the government’s goal of boosting local manufacturing mobile capacity.
Apple’s presence is also reshaping the premium smartphone landscape, with India-made for smartphones becoming more accessible and boosting consumer trust.
OnePlus
OnePlus relies heavily on OnePlus India manufacturing partnerships and shares production lines with OPPO under its broader ecosystem. The brand has established a strong manufacturing presence through well-organised phone assembly in India-madeIndia units that produce both mid-range and premium devices.
OnePlus has aligned its strategy with the goals of the Make in India mobiles initiative, ensuring that new launches are manufactured domestically. This has reduced dependency on imports and made it easier for the brand to maintain competitive pricing in India.
The strong demand for OnePlus devices, combined with supportive policies and advanced assembly infrastructure, has enabled the brand to deepen its involvement in mobile production in mid-range India.
Make in India: Policy and Impact on Mobile Industry
The Make in India initiative has become one of the strongest driving forces behind the rapid transformation of mobile manufacturing India. Over the past decade, India has shifted from being heavily dependent on imports to becoming one of the world’s largest hubs for phones made in India. The initiative has encouraged both global and domestic brands to build large factories, partner with suppliers and increase component localisation. Today, almost all major mobile companies in India manufacture or assemble a large portion of their devices locally, making the country a critical part of the global smartphone supply chain. This section explains how the Make in India mobile policy works, its incentives and the measurable outcomes it has produced.
PLI Scheme
The Production Linked Incentive scheme, commonly known as the PLI scheme for mobile phones, is the backbone of India’s strategy to build a globally competitive manufacturing ecosystem. Launched to attract investment and increase high-value manufacturing, the scheme rewards smartphone makers with financial incentives based on incremental production targets. The core objective is to encourage companies to shift from simple phone assembly in India processes to deeper component manufacturing.
Under the PLI scheme, several major global brands, including Apple, Samsung and Xiaomi have committed to large-scale expansion of their Indian operations. This shift has not only strengthened local manufacturing mobile capacity but has also attracted dozens of global suppliers to set up plants in India. The scheme is designed to reduce import dependence, improve export potential and promote advanced technologies in mobile production in India. As a result, many India made smartphones now include locally produced components such as chargers, batteries, PCBs and camera modules.
Benefits
The Make in India programme has brought numerous advantages to the smartphone sector. One of the most significant benefits is increased affordability. As more brands produce Make in India mobiles, transportation costs, import duties and logistical expenses have reduced sharply, allowing companies to offer better specifications at lower prices. This shift has helped India emerge as one of the most competitive smartphone markets globally.
Another major advantage is the strengthening of domestic employment. Large-scale manufacturing plants operated by mobile companies in India employ thousands of skilled and semi-skilled workers across states such as Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Additionally, the initiative has allowed component manufacturers to enter the country, which supports long-term supply chain stability.
The Make in India initiative has also improved product availability. With strong domestic production networks, brands can respond faster to demand, reduce stock shortages and ensure a consistent supply of India-made smartphones across all price segments. Furthermore, the initiative supports technology transfer as global companies bring advanced manufacturing systems, quality controls and automation technologies into the Indian ecosystem.
Growth per cent
The effect of the Make in India policy can be clearly seen in the rapid expansion of the smartphone manufacturing sector. Over the past few years, mobile manufacturing in India has grown exponentially, taking the country from a small-scale assembler to one of the top global producers of smartphones. India now manufactures hundreds of millions of units annually, making it the second-largest mobile manufacturing base in the world.
The volume of phones made in India has steadily increased, with more than ninety per cent of all smartphones sold domestically now being produced locally. Exports have grown significantly as well, especially from brands benefiting from the PLI scheme for mobile phones. Apple and Samsung, in particular, have increased export volumes, turning India into a major global export hub.
The localisation rate has also improved. What began as basic phone assembly in India has evolved into deeper component production. More companies now invest in local manufacturing of key parts, including PCBs, camera sensors and power modules. This shift not only reduces reliance on foreign suppliers but also enhances India’s strategic position in global technology manufacturing.
Overall, the growth of mobile production in India demonstrates how policy-driven initiatives can reshape an entire industry. Through the Make in India initiative, India has strengthened its industrial base, created employment opportunities and positioned itself as a global force in smartphone manufacturing.
