Foxconn Expanding iPhone Plant to World’s Largest Phone Factory

Foxconn, one of Apple’s primary manufacturing partners, announced on Monday plans to expand the size of a plant that makes iPhones, turning it into the world’s largest phone factory in the process. The facility is planned for Zhengzhou, China, a city that already produces many Apple products.

Apple in China

According to China Daily, the expansion will increase the number of production lines to 95 at a cost of some US$1.1 billion. The firm believes it will then bring in some $20 billion in 2012.

The existing facility is capable of making 200,000 iPhones per day, and it employs 130,000 people. Foxconn (and Apple, by proxy) was lured to the area due to a large work force willing to work on the cheap. Foxconn didn’t say how many iPhone units the expanded facility will be able to make.

Foxconn is a subsidiary of Hon Hai Precision Industry, and it is a major outsource manufacturer for Apple and many other electronics companies. Foxconn currently employs some 1.2 million people around the world, though 1 million of them are in China.