The brands whose phones are made in India - Apple, Samsung, the Chinese-owned brands and the few Indian ones - plus the distributors who sell them.
Apple (India operations)Owner · HighUnlisted
Samsung India ElectronicsOwner · HighUnlisted
Lava InternationalOwner · MediumUnlisted
RedingtonIndirect supplier · LowListed
Samsung India Electronics
Runs one of the world's largest phone factories at Noida, making Galaxy phones for India and export
Strengths
Plans to make Galaxy S26 flagships in Noida (Mar 2026)
Large enough to qualify for MPMS Track 1 on its own
Risks
Not listed in India
Its earlier PLI benefits ended in FY25; future incentives depend on clearing MPMS growth hurdles
Background
Subsidiary of Samsung Electronics (Korea Exchange); not listed in India
Also outsources some models to Indian EMS firms such as Dixon
Compiled from public reporting — not exchange-listed.
Where it fits
Brands design the phone, choose where it is assembled and which parts go in, and sell it through distributors and stores in India and abroad. Under MPMS sales and incentives are counted brand by brand, so a brand's India volume and exports decide whether its assemblers clear the scheme's growth hurdle.
Why it matters
Demand and sourcing decisions sit here. Apple alone exported about ₹2L Cr of iPhones from India in FY26 (Business Today, Apr 2026), roughly three-quarters of smartphone exports. MPMS also has a separate track (TS2) for Indian-owned brands: 5% on sales plus 3% for Indian design and R&D, aimed at Lava and any returning Indian names.
Where the value pool sits
Brands keep most of a phone's margin; assemblers earn low single-digit margins. In India the brands are mostly unlisted subsidiaries of global companies, so listed exposure here is through distributors such as Redington, which earn thin but steady margins on volume.
Key drivers
Export programmes by Apple and Samsung (Samsung plans Galaxy S26 production in Noida)
MPMS TS2 incentives of up to 9.5% for Indian-owned brands
Premiumisation: buyers trading up to higher-priced phones
Potential bottlenecks
Indian smartphone demand is soft - CLSA cited a 15-20% fall in May 2026 sales
A global memory-chip shortage is raising phone costs in 2026
Chinese-linked brands (Vivo, Oppo, Xiaomi) need government approval for Indian equity partners