India, Nov. 21 -- A new report suggests Apple's growing shift toward manufacturing iPhones in India is beginning to reshape, and in some ways weaken, the dominance of China's long-standing "iPhone City." The report, published by Le Monde, highlights how Foxconn's giant Zhengzhou plant is struggling with shrinking labour numbers, stricter regulations, and a decline in seasonal workers, even as India rapidly scales up production.

For more than a decade, the Zhengzhou factory, once employing around 300,000 workers during peak months, has been the global heart of iPhone assembly. Each year, production ramps up dramatically between August and November ahead of the September iPhone launch. To meet the surge, Foxconn traditionally relies heavil...