Why is Apple Investing in its Manufacturing in the US?

In 2025, Apple unveiled plans for a US$100bn investment across the US, marking a major milestone in its broader US$600bn domestic growth initiative over the next four years.

Central to this strategy is the American Manufacturing Program, designed to expand production capabilities and reinforce Apple’s presence within the national tech supply chain.

Key investments will see operations expand in Houston and Kentucky, with the latter set to produce the Mac mini domestically for the first time – a symbolic shift showcasing Apple’s move to rebalance advanced manufacturing between US and global sites.

According to the BBC, US President Donald Trump publicly challenged Apple in 2025, threatening higher tariffs on its product range unless core manufacturing, such as iPhone assembly, relocated to the US.

Despite these efforts, the BBC estimates that nine out of 10 of the 220 million iPhones sold annually still roll off production lines in China, underlining the scale of Apple’s global manufacturing network and the challenges of onshoring such a deeply embedded supply chain.

Shifting towards US manufacturing

As part of its planned US$600bn investment in the US over the next four years, Apple aims to create 20,000 new jobs nationwide.

The majority of these roles will centre on research and development, silicon engineering, software innovation and the advancement of artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities – reinforcing Apple’s strategy to deepen its technology footprint within the US. 

Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, says: “This includes new and expanded work with 10 companies across America. They produce components that are used in Apple products sold all over the world, and we're grateful to the President for his support.”

Apple expanded its US supply chain in 2025 with a new US$500mn commitment to MP Materials, a US-based rare earth producer, securing American-made rare earth magnets for its devices under a multiyear sourcing agreement.

Through this partnership, Apple and MP Materials will also establish a dedicated rare earth recycling line in California and co-develop new magnet materials and advanced processing technologies to improve magnet performance and support a more resilient, tech-centric supply chain.

Investing in manufacturing in Houston

The significant expansion of its factory operations in Houston, Texas, is bringing production of Apple’s Mac mini to the US, with devices set to be built at a new facility on Apple’s Houston manufacturing site.

Apple also began producing advanced AI servers in Houston in 2025, with systems assembled at the site now deployed across Apple data centres throughout the US to support its growing compute and services footprint.

In 2026, a 20,000ft² Advanced Manufacturing Centre is set to open in Houston, providing hands-on training in advanced manufacturing techniques for students, supplier employees and US businesses and helping to build a deeper domestic talent pipeline for next-generation tech manufacturing.

Tim says: “Apple is deeply committed to the future of American manufacturing, and we're proud to significantly expand our footprint in Houston with the production of the Mac mini starting later this year.”

“We began shipping advanced AI servers from Houston ahead of schedule, and we're excited to accelerate that work even further.”

Expanding operations in Kentucky

Apple also announced an expansion of its partnership with Corning to develop precision glass for its product lineup.

Through this agreement, Apple committed US$2.5bn to produce all cover glass for the iPhone and Apple Watch at Corning’s Kentucky manufacturing facility – a key step in advancing domestic production of critical components for next-generation displays and device durability.

This means that 100% of the cover glass on iPhone and Apple Watch units sold worldwide will be made in the US – a pivotal advancement in securing a fully domestic supply chain for one of Apple’s most critical display components.

Tim says: “Thanks to the power of American manufacturing, any customer anywhere in the world who buys a new iPhone or Apple Watch will be holding precision glass made right here in Kentucky. 

“We're grateful to the President and his administration for their support for American manufacturing, and we're excited for the innovation this investment will unlock.”