“Epoch Times, September 18, 2025” reports on Wednesday, as reported by Nikkei Asia, that Apple is currently in talks with suppliers to explore the possibility of setting up a trial production line for foldable iPhones in Taiwan. They are also planning to achieve mass production of foldable iPhones in India by 2026.
Three sources familiar with the matter revealed that the discussions aim to make full use of Taiwan’s Apple suppliers’ engineering resources and ecosystem to establish a small-scale trial production line for foldable iPhone models. This line will be used to verify equipment, fine-tune manufacturing parameters, and production processes.
Once these steps are finalized, Apple will replicate the assembly line in India for mass production. The sources mentioned that this strategy will significantly shorten Apple’s learning curve for launching foldable iPhones and ensure a smooth rollout of mass production in India.
Two insiders disclosed that Apple suppliers have already identified a piece of land in a northern city in Taiwan for constructing the trial production line. However, the plan is not yet finalized and may still undergo changes.
They also pointed out that Taiwan faces challenges in terms of land and labor restrictions. Even for a trial production line, approximately a thousand operators would be required.
According to insiders who spoke to Nikkei Asia, Apple has informed multiple suppliers that the launch of foldable iPhones will drive overall demand for iPhones, including non-foldable models. Ensuring the smooth production of the new device is crucial for Apple to reach its goals in 2026.
Insiders revealed that the American tech giant plans to achieve a 10% increase in total smartphone shipments in 2026 and believes that introducing the highly anticipated foldable model will help achieve this target. If successful, this could assist Apple in shifting its new product development away from China in the context of ongoing tensions between the US and China.
Regarding the iPhone 17 series set to debut in 2025, insiders stated that Apple’s initial production forecast for 2025 is 85 million units, with a total annual production of approximately 220 million iPhones. Actual production volumes will be adjusted based on market responses.
Insiders noted that the Taiwan-India production strategy could help alleviate the risks and logistical barriers brought to Apple by the tense relationships between the US and China, as well as the US and India.
Apple is committed to enhancing manufacturing capabilities and technological standards in India. However, some suppliers have encountered obstacles with importing production equipment from China or bringing in Chinese technicians and engineers due to interference from Chinese authorities.
An insider directly familiar with the situation stated, “Importing equipment from China has long been a challenge for India. Apple needs to cultivate more local Indian suppliers and bring in new tool suppliers from Taiwan. Currently, Apple is working on both fronts.”
Apple has not responded to Nikkei Asia’s request for comments.