According to a report, Apple is conducting early production of the iPhone 17 — the supposed successor to the iPhone 16 that was launched earlier this year — at a plant in India. It is expected to be the first time the Cupertino-based company has developed its product outside of China. Apple has worked to diversify its supply chain over the past few years, producing its latest smartphone models in regions such as India and Vietnam, but it still depends on China for most of its production.

Citing two people with knowledge of the company’s plans, The Information reports (via 9to5Mac) that Apple is conducting initial production work, or the process of turning an early design developed at Apple Park into a commercial product, at an unspecified plant in India. As part of this process, called new product introduction (or NPI), Apple tests hardware and processes to introduce new hardware upgrades (or new designs) before mass production.

This event is in line with TF Securities International analyst Ming-Chi Kuo’s November 2023 forecast. Kuo then claimed that Apple would begin early development of the iPhone 17, expected in the second half of 2025, in India. instead of China.

Although Apple manufactures the latest iPhone models in India and other countries, the decision to start production of the iPhone 17 in India is significant because of the complexity of the process. According to the publication, the company usually conducts its NPI for upcoming products in China between October and May.

Apple’s decision to diversify its supply chain outside of China was made before the COVID-19 pandemic, and the company began assembling its phones in India, starting with the iPhone SE in 2017. Back in 2022, production of the iPhone 14 series in China was briefly hit. , following the shutdown of the Foxconn factory in China due to the pandemic. The company has also reportedly started rolling out its Pro models in the country this year, starting with the iPhone 16 Pro.