India bets billions on breaking China’s grip on smartphone manufacturing

India has announced a major investment strategy worth approximately $19.8 billion to reduce its reliance on China in smartphone manufacturing and expand its domestic semiconductor industry, aiming to strengthen its position as a global electronics hub. The initiative, unveiled this week, includes a five-year Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme offering incentives ranging from 2.25% to 5% of eligible sales to manufacturers, along with an extra 1.5% for sourcing critical components locally. A separate commitment of around $13.3 billion is being directed toward boosting domestic semiconductor production, building on a $10 billion chip incentive program introduced in 2021. The plan comes amid growing efforts to shift parts of the global electronics supply chain from China to India, leveraging the nation's role as a key assembler of smartphones for international brands. Over the last decade, India has become a prominent center for smartphone manufacturing, attracting production from Apple, Samsung, and several Chinese firms, including Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo. Apple started assembling iPhones in India in 2017 through local suppliers such as Foxconn and Tata Group, and currently produces about 25% of its iPhones there as part of a broader strategy to diversify its supply chain. Recent developments indicate that India's influence in smartphone manufacturing is extending beyond Apple. Last week, the Indian government approved a joint venture between Chinese brand Vivo and Indian electronics manufacturer Dixon Technologies, signaling a potential expansion of foreign investment in the sector. Additionally, the government removed import duties on certain phone and electronics components, which could lower production costs for companies operating in the region, including Apple and Xiaomi. Despite these strides, India still faces significant challenges in competing with China, which dominated 63% of global smartphone production in 2025, compared to India's 18%, according to Counterpoint Research. This highlights the vast manufacturing and supplier network that New Delhi is striving to replicate. Industry experts suggest that India's approach is evolving from one focused primarily on final assembly to one emphasizing depth, research and development, and capturing more value within the supply chain. Navkendar Singh, associate vice president at IDC, noted that while India has been successful in final assembly, it has remained dependent on imported components. He emphasized that Apple could benefit directly from these changes, potentially increasing its confidence in diversifying production away from China. The new program is set to run until March 2031, with the Indian government projecting mobile-phone production during that time to reach about $405 billion and creating roughly 60,000 direct jobs. Tarun Pathak, research director at Counterpoint Research, stated that the five-year initiative could lead to stronger long-term returns for India's component ecosystem and attract more manufacturers to the country. He added that local production might provide competitive advantages, especially as rising memory prices and a weaker Indian rupee increase the cost of importing components. The Indian government also aims to encourage domestic companies to capture more value in the smartphone industry. IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted plans to promote homegrown mobile-phone brands, with the smartphone program including an additional 3% incentive for product design and research aimed at developing Indian brands. While India has had notable homegrown handset makers such as Micromax, Karbonn, and Lava, they have faced competition from aggressive expansion by Chinese rivals like Xiaomi, Vivo, and Oppo, who now dominate much of the market. As India continues to invest heavily in its manufacturing capabilities, the focus appears to be on building a self-sufficient electronics industry capable of challenging China's current dominance in smartphone production. The government's latest moves reflect a strategic effort to transform India into a leading player in the global electronics supply chain, with both immediate economic benefits and long-term technological ambitions.