Apple opens first retail store in India as US tech giant sharpens focus on South Asian nation as major market, new manufacturing hub

Hundreds of admirers of the iPhone maker queued around the store, located in a swanky shopping centre in the financial capital of Mumbai

Apple is betting big on the nation of 1.4 billion people with a second store to open in the capital of New Delhi on Thursday

Reading Time:2 minutes

Apple chief executive Tim Cook and Deirdre O’Brien, Apple’s senior vice-president of retail and people, welcome customers at the opening of India’s first Apple retail store in Mumbai on April 18, 2023. Photo: Reuters

Published: 3:22pm, 18 Apr 2023Updated: 5:37pm, 18 Apr 2023

Apple opened its first retail store in India on Tuesday, underscoring the US tech titan’s increasing focus on the South Asian nation as a key sales market and alternative manufacturing hub to China.

Apple chief executive Tim Cook personally opened the doors to welcome customers, as company employees cheered.

Hundreds of admirers of the iPhone maker queued around the store in a swanky shopping centre in the financial capital Mumbai, some of them waiting overnight.

The California-based firm is betting big on the nation of 1.4 billion people – home to the second-highest number of smartphone users in the world, after China – with a second store to open in the capital New Delhi on Thursday.

People queue outside India’s first Apple store in Mumbai ahead of its opening on April 18, 2023. Photo: Agence France-Presse

The world’s biggest company in terms of market value is also expanding its manufacturing footprint in India, as it seeks to diversify its supply chain away from a heavy dependence on neighbouring China.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x