Apple to Open its First Retail Store in India in Mumbai
Company’s website announces the new store is “coming soon” to the Jio World Drive mall.
Apple has announced that it will be opening its first retail store in India, located in Mumbai at the Jio World Drive mall. The notice on Apple’s website reads “Hello Mumbai, we are getting ready to welcome you aboard our first store in India. And raring to see where your creativity takes you at Apple BKC.” Although the website says that the new store is “coming soon,” no exact opening date has been announced yet.
22,000 Square Feet Store at the Jio World Drive mall
The Mumbai store is reportedly 22,000 square feet, making it one of the largest Apple stores in the world. Customers can see a few exterior pictures of the location in a recent Reuters article. The store’s interior design and features have not been revealed yet, but Apple is known for creating immersive and innovative shopping experiences for its customers.
Delays due to COVID-19
This store is not a complete surprise as Apple CEO Tim Cook announced in 2020 that the company would open its first retail store in India in 2021. However, the pandemic caused delays and the store’s opening was postponed to the first quarter of 2022. Apple missed that estimate, but it seems that the company is finally ready to welcome customers to the new store.
Investing in India
Apple has been investing more in India for some time now. It launched its online store in India in September 2020, offering customers a full range of products and support directly from Apple. The company has also been manufacturing many flagship iPhones in India, a move that has helped it avoid steep import tariffs and reduce its dependence on Chinese manufacturing. In addition to the Mumbai store, the company has been hiring for then-unannounced stores in various locations within India, indicating that more retail stores may be coming to the country in the future.
Crucial Market for Apple
Apple’s expansion in India takes a significant leap with the opening of its Mumbai store. With a population of more than 1.3 billion, India is a crucial market for Apple to sustain its global growth. The country’s burgeoning middle class and rapid technology adoption make it an appealing destination for tech companies, including Apple. The inauguration of this new store is bound to generate enthusiasm among Apple enthusiasts across India, eager to get hands-on experience with the latest tech innovations from the giant brand.
In conclusion, the Jio World Drive mall in Mumbai will shortly host the opening of Apple’s first physical store in India. The store’s launch is a significant step in the company’s entry into India, a market that is essential to its progress. More retail locations will probably open in India in the future as the business increases its investments there, bringing the newest goods and innovations to Apple enthusiasts all throughout the nation.
