India urged to exempt older iPhones from USB-C charging regulations by Apple

Reportedly, Apple is requesting India to delay the implementation of a rule mandating all smartphones sold in the country to have a USB-C charging port. The regulation differs from a similar one in the EU, as India may press Apple to switch to a USB-C port on older iPhones.

Samsung and other manufacturers have agreed to India’s plan to have a universal USB-C charging port on their smartphones by June 2025, six months after the EU’s deadline. Apple, however, is said to have pressed India to delay the rule’s implementation, or at least exempt older iPhones.

Apple executives reportedly told Indian officials that if the rule applies to older iPhones, the company would not be able to meet production targets set by the country’s production-linked incentive (PLI) program. Under this scheme, India grants electronic manufacturers financial incentives to make new investments and generate incremental phone sales each year.

Apple suppliers like Foxconn have reportedly utilized the program, with estimates suggesting that 12-14% of iPhones made this year will be manufactured in India, with the proportion potentially rising to 25% next year.

Apple claims that it cannot change the design of earlier iPhones to include a USB-C port and argued that it would need 18 months beyond the end of next year to comply with the regulation unless it gains an exemption for pre-iPhone 15 models. The company stated that this extended timeline is necessary to phase out Lightning ports on older iPhones, which Indian consumers tend to prefer due to their lower prices when new models are released.