India’s iPhone breakthrough masks struggle to boost manufacturing

On paper, India’s chances of attracting global manufacturers look rosy. 

Apple Inc. began assembling its latest iPhone models in India in a significant break from its practice of reserving much of that for giant Chinese factories run by its main Taiwanese assemblers, a key win for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make in India” campaign.

Among India’s advantages are rising geopolitical tensions between Western nations and China, and a growing friendship with the US, Australia and Japan, which form part of the Quad, a grouping of democracies to counter Beijing’s economic and military ambitions.