iPhones made in Chennai: The iconic iPhone maker Apple Inc will start assembling its high-end models in India through a local unit of Taiwanese contract manufacturer Foxconn starting from early 2019, news agency Reuters reported citing a source familiar of the development. This will be for the first time that a Taiwanese contract manufacturer will make the product in India. Reportedly, Foxconn has been brought on board to assemble some most expensive models including devices in iPhone X series. With this move, Apple Inc plans to strengthen its grip and reach further heights in Indian market.

The production of these iPhones will happen at Foxconn’s plant in Sriperumbudur town in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. Foxconn, which already makes phones for Xiaomi Corp, will invest 25 billion Indian rupees ($356 million) to expand the plant, including investment in iPhone production, Tamil Nadu’s Industries Minister M C Sampath told Reuters.

The investment is expected to open doors to as many as 25,000 jobs in the state. Earlier, it was reported on December 24 that Foxconn would start manufacturing top-end iPhone models in India starting next year.

Prior to this development, only low-cost SE and 6S iPhone models were assembled in India through Wistron Corp’s local unit in the Bengaluru technology hub. A recent report by technology research firm Counterpoint stated that low-end iPhones have driven sales in India and more than half of the total volume is consumed by models older than the iPhone 8 which was launched in 2017.

After the launch of new versions including iPhone XS and XR, Apple reduced the production of iPhone X. However, the California-based tech giant could get Foxconn to assemble the older iPhone X models in India where the company sells low-cost models to bag a significantly larger share of one of world’s fastest growing mobile phone markets.

Though, exact details of the development are still not clear and could change. It is also not clear if the production of these iPhones will be limited to assembling the devices or include any component production in India as well.