On Thursday, April 20, Apple opened its second retail store in India at Select City Mall in Delhi. Many eager shoppers queued up since the early morning hours to be among the first to explore Apple’s latest offerings, such as iPhone, Mac, Apple Watch, iPad, AirPods, Apple TV lineups, and accessories like AirTag. The store is a little smaller than the one in Mumbai but follows the same retail format as any other Apple store worldwide. The store will feature areas for meetings and classes, hardware, new screens, and a “Genius Grove,” which is a tree-filled space replacing the previous “Genius Bar.”
Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, made his way to India to open the first-ever Apple retail store in India’s financial capital, Mumbai. Following the grand opening of the Mumbai store, he flew down to Delhi to meet the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. Cook stated that Apple is dedicated to increasing its retail presence and manufacturing base in India, which is home to a massive population of 1.4 billion people. The opening of the Mumbai and Delhi stores is part of Apple’s efforts to deepen its reach in India, which is renowned for its lucrative mobile phone market.
Despite having a modest presence in India’s mobile phone market, where 95% of smartphones are powered by Google’s Android operating system, Apple aims to boost its market share in the coming years. Apple’s iPhone is an aspirational product in India, and the company aims to expand the market for its products in the premium segment. India’s young population is willing to pay more for phones and laptops, making the country an attractive target for Apple. It’s why Apple chose to open its first two stores in Mumbai and Delhi, the two wealthiest cities in India.
According to Bloomberg, Apple made $6 billion in revenue in the year through to March, growing 50% over the previous year. The company shipped around 6.5 million iPhones in India in 2022, up from 4.8 million in 2021, as per IDC. With these numbers, it’s clear that Apple is well on its way to expanding its reach in India’s mobile phone market.
Apple plans to continue investing in the Indian market by opening new retail stores and expanding its manufacturing base. The company has already begun manufacturing its iPhone SE model at a plant in Bengaluru, a southern city in India. By manufacturing locally in India, Apple can avoid some import duties and reduce its costs, making its products more affordable for Indian consumers.
Apple’s efforts to expand its retail presence and manufacturing base in India are a clear indication of the company’s commitment to the Indian market. With a young population that is willing to pay for premium products, Apple has a real chance to expand its market share in India’s mobile phone market. With the opening of the Mumbai and Delhi stores and plans to expand its manufacturing base, Apple is taking bold steps to make a name for itself in India’s mobile phone market.
