India, Sept. 22 -- The iPhone 17 may have dazzled on stage at its launch, but the real story is unfolding far from Silicon Valley, on the factory floors of Tamil Nadu and Bengaluru. For the first time, every new model, from the entry version to the Pro Max, is being assembled in India for global distribution. This isn't just a minor supply-chain tweak. It's a strategic move in a world shaken by trade wars and shifting geopolitics, a clear signal that relying solely on China is no longer an option.

This strategic shift has accelerated following the US - China trade conflict. And the scale is striking. Foxconn's 300-acre site in Bengaluru will employ nearly 100,000 people, many of whom are young women trained to work on the latest iPhones....