The iPhone 16 series officially launches globally today, and according to MacMagazine, Apple has expanded production beyond China and India, with Foxconn now assembling iPhone 16 units in Brazil. This marks the first time a new Apple model is being produced in South America during its initial launch phase, which helps the company overcome Brazil’s steep import tariffs, boost sales, and mitigate potential supply chain disruptions caused by geopolitical tensions.

Brazilian regulatory filings confirm that Foxconn’s factory in Jundiaí, São Paulo, is mass-producing the iPhone 16.

MacMagazine reports that while Foxconn’s Brazilian plant has previously assembled iPhones, it mainly focused on older models. This time, for the first time, the factory is part of the assembly lineup for the new iPhone 16, though it’s only producing the basic model and not the higher-end Pro variants.

Supply chain sources cited by Economy Daily News indicate that previous models like the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 were also assembled in Brazil to avoid the country’s high import duties. However, these units were initially produced in China before being assembled in Brazil later in the product cycle. The iPhone 16, on the other hand, is being produced in Brazil much earlier, reflecting Apple’s ongoing efforts to diversify its supply chain and reduce its dependency on China.

Foxconn’s Brazilian facility is currently assembling only the base iPhone 16, not the iPhone 16 Pro or Pro Max models. This is largely due to the high cost of iPhones in South America, where entry-level models tend to be more popular.

In contrast, this year marks the first time Apple has launched India-made iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max models, a major milestone for both Apple and India’s manufacturing industry.

(Photo credit: Apple)