Next week will see the opening of Apple’s first physical locations in India, underscoring the significance of the nation for the sale and production of iPhones in the future.

The Cupertino behemoth will launch a location in Mumbai on April 18 and Delhi, the nation’s capital, on April 20.

According to Bloomberg, which cited people familiar with the situation, Apple CEO Tim Cook may visit India to officially inaugurate the stores. His stance toward the fifth-largest economy in the world is reinforced by this action.

Cook’s visit comes nearly 7 years after his first trip to India, and it coincides with Apple’s efforts to increase local production and retail product sales.

The Indian market, which has been dominated by low-to-mid-priced smartphones from brands like Samsung and Xiaomi, has seen Apple increase its market penetration. According to Counterpoint Research, iPhone shipments increased 16% year over year in 2022, and Apple dominated the market for premium smartphones, or those priced above $365. While the business has had an online store in India since 2020, it is only now looking to open its first actual retail facility there.

In a February earnings call, Cook declared, “I’m really positive about India. Apple saw record iPhone revenues in India during the December quarter, and the number of regional iPhone customers climbed to “double-digit.”

Apple is “putting a significant amount of energy” in India, Cook stressed at the time.

Retail is only one step. On the manufacturing front, Apple began assembling its flagship iPhone 14 in India last year — the first time that the company has produced its latest device in the country, so close to its initial launch. Piyush Goyal, India’s minister of commerce and industry, said in January that Apple is aiming to make 25% of all of its iPhones in India.

The manufacturing push in India comes as Apple is looking to reduce its reliance on China, where it currently makes the bulk of its iPhones.

Cook emphasized at the time that Apple is “putting a significant amount of energy” into India.

Shopping is just one step. In terms of production, Apple started assembling its flagship iPhone 14 in India last year, the first time the corporation has done so so soon after its initial release. Apple plans to manufacture 25% of all of its iPhones in India, according to Piyush Goyal, India’s minister of business and industry, who made the announcement in January.

Apple is aiming to lessen its reliance on China, where it presently produces the majority of its iPhones, hence the manufacturing push in India.

(Adapted from Business-Standard.com)

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