Tata Electronics has rapidly expanded its electronics manufacturing operations, emerging as one of Apple's most important contract manufacturers in India as the country strengthens its position in global electronics production.
According to The Economic Times, citing unnamed sources, "Tata Electronics has expanded its workforce to 75,000, surpassing Taiwanese rival Foxconn's headcount in the country, making it Apple's largest contract manufacturer by headcount currently." The report added that the expansion has been driven primarily by its large-scale Hosur facility in Tamil Nadu.
Supply-chain sources said the company's workforce growth marks a sharp increase from about 15,000 in 2023, reflecting an aggressive scaling strategy supported by major capital investment, factory acquisitions, and rapid capacity buildout. The expansion includes its 500-acre Hosur campus, which has become the core hub of iPhone assembly in India.
Tata Electronics has combined acquisitions of Taiwanese contract manufacturers' Indian assets with greenfield investment to accelerate entry into Apple's supply chain. It acquired former Wistron and Pegatron facilities, while simultaneously expanding its Hosur plant, which began iPhone assembly operations in 2025.
In addition to assembly, the company is also moving upstream into semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) and component localization, supported by large-scale funding injections in recent fiscal years. These investments aim to build a vertically integrated electronics manufacturing base spanning assembly, packaging, and supply chain services.
The reported figure of 75,000 employees reflects both direct and acquired operations across Tata Electronics' manufacturing footprint in southern India. One source noted that the rapid scale-up has enabled the company to meet Apple's production requirements while overtaking Foxconn in local headcount, although industry participants expect rankings to fluctuate as other facilities ramp up.
The expansion comes as Apple continues to deepen its India manufacturing strategy, supported by government incentives and supply chain diversification away from China. India has become a key export base for iPhones, with Tata Electronics playing an increasingly significant role in shipments to the US market.
Industry analysts said the milestone highlights India's emergence as a credible electronics manufacturing hub, but also pointed to ongoing challenges, including supply chain localization, technical talent shortages, and intensifying competition among global contract manufacturers operating in the country.
Article edited by Jack Wu
