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Apple has big expansion plans for India – plans that are now being frowned upon by US President Donald Trump. Currently, Apple does not manufacture iPhones in the United States, but Trump wants that to change. Trump has made it clear to Apple CEO Tim Cook that he has a ‘problem’ with US tech giant ‘building all over India’.The majority of iPhone production occurs in China, whilst facilities in India make approximately 40 million units annually. That’s roughly 15% of Apple’s total production. Trump on Thursday revealed that he asked Apple CEO Tim Cook to stop iPhone manufacturing in India and relocate production to the United States.Trump said, “I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday. I said to him, ‘Tim, you’re my friend. I treated you very well. You’re coming in with $500 billion (investment). But now I hear you’re building all over India. I don’t want you building in India.”Also Read | Donald Trump warns Apple about ‘Make in India’, will Tim Cook-led iPhone maker listen?“We are not interested in you building in India. India can take care of themselves,”Trump said he told Cook. Trump indicated that following their discussion, Apple would increase its manufacturing operations in the United States. But how easy is it for Apple to shift production to the US? We dive in:Tim Cook on why Apple makes in China & not USTim Cook had once explained why Apple manufactures its products in China and not the US. He had dismissed claims of low labour cost being the main reason, instead talking about the availability of skills.“There’s a confusion about China…the popular conception is that companies come to China because of low labour cost. I’m not sure what part of China they go to but the truth is China stopped being a low labour cost country many years ago.” “The reason (for making in China) is because of the skill, the quantity of skill in one location, and the type of skill. We require really advanced tooling and the precision that you have to have in tooling and working with the materials. The tooling skill is very deep in China,” he had explained.“In the US you could have a meeting of tooling engineers and I’m not sure we could fill the room. In China you could fill multiple football fields. That vocational expertise is very deep in China,” he had said.Can Apple make iPhones in the US?The biggest obstacles that could prevent Apple from moving its manufacturing to the United States stem from the intricate supply network established in China since the 1990s. Neil Shah, Vice President of Research, Counterpoint Research believes it’s easier said than done. “Every government would like to bring manufacturing locally to their country. However, Apple has more than 1,000 components going into an iPhone, and it took almost a decade for Apple to build such a complex and high-quality supply chain. And, it has been more than five years in India for Apple to reach some form of capacity, and still far away from building a well-oiled supply chain like China,” he says.“If not China for US-bound iPhones, then India remains the only potential manufacturing destination for Apple as the ecosystem is mushrooming, aided by lower-cost English-speaking skilled labour, world-class software talent, favourable government policies such as PLI, and a huge domestic consumption market,” he adds.Also Read | Donald Trump says India has offered a trade deal with ‘literally no tariffs’Constructing new facilities in the US would require substantial time and financial investment, potentially reaching billions of dollars. Additionally, the economic implications could lead to a threefold increase in iPhone prices, potentially jeopardising the sales of their flagship device, feel experts.In February this year, Apple attempted to placate Trump by revealing its intentions to invest $500 billion and create 20,000 jobs in the United States by 2028. However, these commitments did not include any provisions for domestic iPhone production.Industry analysts indicate that iPhone costs would triple to $3,000 per unit if manufacturing shifts from India to the United States, compared to the current price point of $1,000.MCCIA Director General, Prashant Girbane said, “A lot better thought would prevail both in the Apple company and the US administration. They would realise the following facts. First, if they decide to manufacture in the USA as compared to China, India, or Vietnam, a USD 1,000 iPhone would cost USD 3,000. Are American consumers willing to pay USD 3,000 for that iPhone?”He added, “The manufacturing and jobs are not moving away from the USA to India, they are moving from China to India so that they would have a diversified supply chain, and American companies and consumers are protected right from the hegemony of one country that is not most friendly with them in terms of trade.”Also Read | Advantage or disadvantage? How the US-China trade deal will likely impact India – explainedApple’s India plansUntil recently, rattled by Trump’s trade barriers on China, Tim Cook had identified India as the primary source for iPhone deliveries to the US market. “For the June quarter, we do expect the majority of iPhones sold in the US will have India as their country of origin,” Cook stated during the company’s quarterly earnings discussion on May 2.However, following the trade agreement between the US and China regarding tariffs, Apple is reassessing its ambitious expansion strategy for India. Sources told TOI that whilst “regular expansion and China+1 production diversification plans will continue as envisaged”, the company’s iPhone manufacturing plans specifically aimed at the US market are now “temporarily put under review”.A source informed TOI, “We await clarity on the geopolitical situation and the tariffs. Things have been moving at a fast pace, and there have been many sudden changes to the US govt’s stance on tariffs, including with regards to China where duty has been reduced drastically over the past few days. We will take a breather before embarking on any mega production expansion plans in India with regards to exclusive supplies to the US.“In light of Trump’s recent statements against making iPhones in India, government officials confirmed that Apple has reaffirmed its commitment to continue investments in India via its manufacturing collaborators Foxconn and the Tata group. “Apple has said that there will be ‘no let up’ in the regular investment plans that began in the post-Covid period after the introduction of the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for smartphones. The China+1 diversification will continue. Only the exclusive US supplies are under review,” government officials said.The Apple manufacturing network in India stands as a significant employment generator, reportedly providing jobs to approximately two lakh individuals across various supplier companies throughout the country.Also Read | Dealing with Trump’s tariffs: Apple exports 97.6% of iPhones to US from India to preempt higher tariffs on imports from ChinaWhat’s the road ahead?It’s important to note that during his first presidential term, Trump attempted to persuade Apple to relocate iPhone manufacturing to American soil, but his efforts proved unsuccessful. His administration had ultimately decided to exclude iPhones from the Chinese tariffs that were implemented during that period.Neil Shah of Counterpoint Research is of the view that Trump’s remarks may actually be a negotiating tactic amidst the ongoing India-US trade deal talks. “Reading between the lines, the US’s request to Apple could also be a way to gain leverage against India in negotiations, as they understand India needs ‘halo’ companies such as Apple to attract and develop a robust domestic supplier ecosystem. So, this statement won’t affect Apple’s plans, which are already in motion with India in the driver’s seat as a potential alternative destination to China,” he said.
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Luxury skincare expansion: L’Oreal acquires majority stake in Medik8; announces 1 billion Euro deal
[ad_1] Cosmetics maker L’Oreal agreed to acquire a majority stake in British skincare brand Medik8, in a strategic move to strengthen its presence in the booming skincare market. The French beauty giant announced the deal on Monday, though financial terms were not disclosed.The transaction, which sees UK-based private equity firm Inflexion selling its majority holding, reportedly values Medik8 at around 1 billion Euro, according to a source familiar with the matter. Inflexion will retain a minority share, while L’Oreal has secured the option to eventually buy out all remaining shareholders, Reuters reported.“We are delighted to welcome Medik8 to the L’Oréal family. As a premium skincare range, with high levels of proven efficacy at an accessible price point, Medik8 perfectly complements our existing skincare portfolio,” Cyril Chaupuy, president of L’oreal Luxe said.“This acquisition further strengthens L’Oreal’s luxe portfolio, adding a premium […]
270 million pulled out of poverty! How Modi government achieved a remarkable dip in extreme poverty & what’s the road ahead? Explained
[ad_1] India’s GDP has more than doubled in the last decade, and experts believe that this has trickled down to the poorest. (AI image) Marking a big achievement over the last decade, extreme poverty in India has dropped substantially from 27.1% in 2011-12 to 5.3% in 2022-23, according to the latest World Bank data. The remarkable progress under the Narendra Modi government has come despite the World Bank raising its poverty threshold to $3 per person per day from $2.15 per person per day earlier.Incidentally, India’s huge reduction in extreme poverty comes at a time when globally there has been an increase in the number of people below the poverty line. According to a government fact sheet, India has emerged a statistical outlier in the positive direction.The latest data is being seen as a boost in the government’s economic growth […]
Ayodhya land prices: Circle rates revised first time in 8 years; soar up to 200%
[ad_1] For the first time in eight years, Ayodhya has seen a sharp revision in its circle rates, with property prices rising between 30% and 200% across various parts of the district, officials told PTI.The prices are particularly steep within a 10-kilometre radius of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, an area witnessing a real estate boom fuelled by religious tourism and rapid infrastructure growth. Here, circle rates have jumped over 150%, pushing land values in the prime zone to Rs 26,600–27,900 per square metre, compared to Rs 6,650–6,975 earlier.Shanti Bhushan Chaubey, sub-registrar of Sadar (Faizabad) tehsil, said the hike followed a proposal submitted last September. “After addressing objections, the new circle rates were approved by District Magistrate Tikaram Funde and have now been enforced,” he said.According to Chaubey, the sharpest hikes were recorded in areas with the most land activity. “Localities […]
China exports: Global shipments rose 4.8% in May; inflow to US falls nearly 35% amid trade talks
[ad_1] China’s export growth lost momentum in May, rising 4.8% year-on-year, a sharp slowdown from the 8.1% surge recorded in April, as per the customs data released on Monday.The deceleration came amid a sharp drop in shipments to the United States, down 35% year-on-year, as tensions between the two economic giants continued to cloud trade prospects.The figures were released just hours ahead of another round of US-China trade negotiations scheduled for later in the day, in London. These talks come after a phone call between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping last week. Zichun Huang of Capital Economics anticipated exports growth to revive in June, thanks to a 90-day suspension on most of the tariffs the two countries have imposed on each other.China’s imports also fell in May, down 3.4% year-on-year, leaving the country with a trade […]
Tata Motors future plans: Rs 33,000-35,000 crore investment to boost passenger vehicles; hoping to lead in EV segment
[ad_1] Automaking giant Tata Motors is planning massive investment plans for the future, earmarking Rs 33,000 crore to Rs 35,000 crore for FY 26-30 on product actions. The Mumbai-headquartered company is targeting 30 product actions, including the launch of seven new models, as it looks to sharpen its competitive edge in India’s fast-evolving passenger vehicle (PV) market.As part of its long-term strategy, the automaker aims to secure a 16% market share, including electric vehicles (EVs), by FY27, rising to 18–20% over the next few years. Tata Motors expects the domestic PV industry to hit annual sales of 60 lakh units by 2030 and is positioning itself to ride that wave with a refreshed and expansive portfolio.“Looking ahead, we will strengthen our portfolio by FY30...7 new nameplates and 23 product refreshes will holistically enhance the portfolio,” the company told analysts in […]
India’s two-wheeler industry: Growth to surpass Covid-19 levels soon; driven by RBI rate cuts and robust domestic demand
[ad_1] The two-wheeler industry in India is set to undergo a massive selling surge, surpassing pre-Covid-19 levels, driven by RBI’s rate cut, strong domestic demand and significant recovery in exports. According to a report by CareEdge Ratings, the sector is expected to register a healthy volume growth of 8–9% in FY26. This follows three years of strong performance, with volumes rising by 8% in FY23, 10% in FY24 and 11% in FY25.A key factor behind this growth is the Reserve Bank of India’s cumulative 100 basis points rate cut since February 2025, including a 50 bps reduction last week, which is anticipated to make vehicle loans more affordable and spur demand.“The cumulative 100 bps rate cut by the RBI since February 2025, with the recent 50 bps rate cut announced last week, is expected to enhance affordability and boost demand” […]
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Luxury skincare expansion: L’Oreal acquires majority stake in Medik8; announces 1 billion Euro deal
[ad_1] Cosmetics maker L’Oreal agreed to acquire a majority stake in British skincare brand Medik8, in a strategic move to strengthen its presence in the booming skincare market. The French beauty giant announced the deal on Monday, though financial terms were not disclosed.The transaction, which sees UK-based private equity firm Inflexion selling its majority holding, reportedly values Medik8 at around 1 billion Euro, according to a source familiar with the matter. Inflexion will retain a minority share, while L’Oreal has secured the option to eventually buy out all remaining shareholders, Reuters reported.“We are delighted to welcome Medik8 to the L’Oréal family. As a premium skincare range, with high levels of proven efficacy at an accessible price point, Medik8 perfectly complements our existing skincare portfolio,” Cyril Chaupuy, president of L’oreal Luxe said.“This acquisition further strengthens L’Oreal’s luxe portfolio, adding a premium […]
270 million pulled out of poverty! How Modi government achieved a remarkable dip in extreme poverty & what’s the road ahead? Explained
[ad_1] India’s GDP has more than doubled in the last decade, and experts believe that this has trickled down to the poorest. (AI image) Marking a big achievement over the last decade, extreme poverty in India has dropped substantially from 27.1% in 2011-12 to 5.3% in 2022-23, according to the latest World Bank data. The remarkable progress under the Narendra Modi government has come despite the World Bank raising its poverty threshold to $3 per person per day from $2.15 per person per day earlier.Incidentally, India’s huge reduction in extreme poverty comes at a time when globally there has been an increase in the number of people below the poverty line. According to a government fact sheet, India has emerged a statistical outlier in the positive direction.The latest data is being seen as a boost in the government’s economic growth […]
Ayodhya land prices: Circle rates revised first time in 8 years; soar up to 200%
[ad_1] For the first time in eight years, Ayodhya has seen a sharp revision in its circle rates, with property prices rising between 30% and 200% across various parts of the district, officials told PTI.The prices are particularly steep within a 10-kilometre radius of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, an area witnessing a real estate boom fuelled by religious tourism and rapid infrastructure growth. Here, circle rates have jumped over 150%, pushing land values in the prime zone to Rs 26,600–27,900 per square metre, compared to Rs 6,650–6,975 earlier.Shanti Bhushan Chaubey, sub-registrar of Sadar (Faizabad) tehsil, said the hike followed a proposal submitted last September. “After addressing objections, the new circle rates were approved by District Magistrate Tikaram Funde and have now been enforced,” he said.According to Chaubey, the sharpest hikes were recorded in areas with the most land activity. “Localities […]
China exports: Global shipments rose 4.8% in May; inflow to US falls nearly 35% amid trade talks
[ad_1] China’s export growth lost momentum in May, rising 4.8% year-on-year, a sharp slowdown from the 8.1% surge recorded in April, as per the customs data released on Monday.The deceleration came amid a sharp drop in shipments to the United States, down 35% year-on-year, as tensions between the two economic giants continued to cloud trade prospects.The figures were released just hours ahead of another round of US-China trade negotiations scheduled for later in the day, in London. These talks come after a phone call between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping last week. Zichun Huang of Capital Economics anticipated exports growth to revive in June, thanks to a 90-day suspension on most of the tariffs the two countries have imposed on each other.China’s imports also fell in May, down 3.4% year-on-year, leaving the country with a trade […]
Tata Motors future plans: Rs 33,000-35,000 crore investment to boost passenger vehicles; hoping to lead in EV segment
[ad_1] Automaking giant Tata Motors is planning massive investment plans for the future, earmarking Rs 33,000 crore to Rs 35,000 crore for FY 26-30 on product actions. The Mumbai-headquartered company is targeting 30 product actions, including the launch of seven new models, as it looks to sharpen its competitive edge in India’s fast-evolving passenger vehicle (PV) market.As part of its long-term strategy, the automaker aims to secure a 16% market share, including electric vehicles (EVs), by FY27, rising to 18–20% over the next few years. Tata Motors expects the domestic PV industry to hit annual sales of 60 lakh units by 2030 and is positioning itself to ride that wave with a refreshed and expansive portfolio.“Looking ahead, we will strengthen our portfolio by FY30...7 new nameplates and 23 product refreshes will holistically enhance the portfolio,” the company told analysts in […]
India’s two-wheeler industry: Growth to surpass Covid-19 levels soon; driven by RBI rate cuts and robust domestic demand
[ad_1] The two-wheeler industry in India is set to undergo a massive selling surge, surpassing pre-Covid-19 levels, driven by RBI’s rate cut, strong domestic demand and significant recovery in exports. According to a report by CareEdge Ratings, the sector is expected to register a healthy volume growth of 8–9% in FY26. This follows three years of strong performance, with volumes rising by 8% in FY23, 10% in FY24 and 11% in FY25.A key factor behind this growth is the Reserve Bank of India’s cumulative 100 basis points rate cut since February 2025, including a 50 bps reduction last week, which is anticipated to make vehicle loans more affordable and spur demand.“The cumulative 100 bps rate cut by the RBI since February 2025, with the recent 50 bps rate cut announced last week, is expected to enhance affordability and boost demand” […]
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