For the first time, the new iPhone model you buy on launch day could be made in India.

Apple Inc. intends to make the India-built iPhone 15 available in the South Asian country and some other regions on the first day of global sales, according to people familiar with the matter. While the vast majority of iPhone 15s will be made in China, it will be the first time a new generation, India-assembled device is available on the first day of sales, they said, declining to be identified because the matter is confidential.

It would also highlight India's growing manufacturing prowess and mark a significant departure from Apple's previous strategy of selling mostly Chinese-made new devices to frenzied customers around the world. The new iPhone 15 is expected to go on sale in the days or weeks following its September 12 unveiling at 10 a.m. California time.

Last month, Cupertino, California-based Apple began production of the iPhone 15 at Foxconn Technology Group's factory in southern Tamil Nadu state. This was yet another attempt by the US tech behemoth to close the gap between its India operations and its main manufacturing bases in China.

According to the sources, minor delays with the India-built device could occur due to unforeseen logistics bottlenecks.