Foxconn scales up Bengaluru factory with 30,000 hires in under a year

Foxconn’s new Bengaluru iPhone plant has hired 30,000 workers in 9 months, 80% women, assembling iPhone 17 models for global export

Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. (Foxconn), Apple’s largest manufacturing partner, has rapidly scaled up its new iPhone assembly facility near Bengaluru, hiring close to 30,000 employees in just nine months. The expansion, described as one of the fastest factory ramp-ups in India, highlights Apple’s accelerating shift of production beyond China.

The plant, located on a 300-acre campus in Devanahalli, began trial runs earlier this year with iPhone 16 models and has now moved to assembling the latest iPhone 17 Pro Max. More than 80% of the devices produced are being exported, underscoring India’s growing role in Apple’s global supply chain.

A striking feature of the workforce is its composition: nearly 80% are women, most between 19 and 24 years old and entering the workforce for the first time. To accommodate the influx, Foxconn has already built six large dormitories, with more under construction. At full capacity next year, the facility is expected to employ up to 50,000 people, making it India’s largest factory by headcount and output.

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The Devanahalli campus is projected to become a self-contained township, with residential, healthcare, educational, and recreational infrastructure. Workers receive free housing, subsidised meals, and an average monthly salary of around ₹18,000—among the highest wages for women in blue-collar manufacturing roles.

Foxconn is investing nearly ₹20,000 crore in the project, which will eventually host up to a dozen iPhone assembly lines, surpassing the company’s existing facility in Tamil Nadu. The expansion is supported by India’s production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for electronics manufacturing, introduced in 2021 to attract global players.

Apple’s India operations are now backed by a network of about 45 suppliers spanning components, sub-assemblies, and logistics. New recruits undergo six weeks of training before joining production, helping build a skilled workforce and strengthening the local ecosystem.

With all iPhone 17 models now assembled in India and shipped worldwide, the Bengaluru plant cements the country’s position as a critical alternative to China in Apple’s manufacturing strategy. For Bengaluru—often dubbed the Silicon Valley of India—the development adds another dimension to its growing reputation as a global technology hub.

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