Foxconn to make OnePlus phones in India

China-based maker of mobile handsets OnePlus has now joined the likes of its rival Lenovo and Xiaomi to launch local manufacturing in India with the help of Foxconn. OnePlus on Monday announced it is partnering with the iPhone makers for contract manufacturing of smartphones in India at the Sri City Integrated Business City in Andhra Pradesh. The production is set to begin by the end of the year.

The facility will have a cumulative peak capacity that can produce up to 500,000 units a month. The facility will also generate direct employment of over 1,000 full time workers, the company said in a statement.

 

"India being one of our biggest markets worldwide, we are committed to a long term sustainable growth path. This move will strengthen our presence and help us step up momentum in India," said Pete Lau, Founder & CEO, OnePlus. He added that about one-third of OnePlus's total smartphone sales come from the India market.

With this OnePlus will join the bandwagon of other smartphone makers including Xiaomi, Gionee, Asus and Lenovo to manufacture smartphones in India and thus are playing their part in the Make in India campaign.

"Our dream is to catapult Andhra Pradesh to become one of the hottest destinations for local manufacturing in India, and I believe with brands such as OnePlus joining in, that dream is quickly becoming a reality," said N Chandrababu Naidu, chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, in a statement.

Taiwan-based Foxconn also has been making headlines about its India investments. It had announced an investment of $5 billion over three years to set up a manufacturing unit in Maharashtra.