Apple To Boost India Presence With Four New Retail Stores: These Cities Are On The List

Apple is planning on opening four additional retail stores in India. The iPhone maker will also begin production of the iPhone 16 Pro domestically, with the aim to strengthen its position in the world's second-largest smartphone market.

The company aims to launch new outlets in Bengaluru, Pune, Delhi-NCR, and Mumbai, following the success of its initial stores in Mumbai (BKC) and New Delhi (Saket) last year.

Apple's Retail Expansion in India

Deirdre O'Brien, Apple's senior vice president of Retail, expressed enthusiasm about the expansion. "We are thrilled to build our teams as we plan to open more stores in India, because we are inspired by the creativity and passion of our customers across this country," she stated.

"We can't wait for them to have even more opportunities to discover and shop for our amazing products and services, and connect with our extraordinary, knowledgeable team members." However, she did not specify when these new stores would open.

Local Manufacturing Initiatives

In addition to retail expansion, Apple has started producing its entire iPhone 16 lineup domestically. The company began manufacturing iPhones in India back in 2017 with the SE model. This strategic move is part of Apple's efforts to reduce reliance on China for production while capitalising on India's burgeoning smartphone market.

Despite these efforts, J.P. Morgan analysts noted that Apple's shift of iPhone production to India is slower than anticipated. They predict that by 2027, 20-25% of iPhones will be manufactured in India. This projection has been adjusted from an earlier forecast which expected this milestone by 2025. Currently, Indian production accounts for an estimated 10-15% of total iPhone output.

India's Growing Market Significance

Apple's business performance in India is also showing significant growth. According to Morgan Stanley, Apple's revenue in India surged by 42% year-on-year in 2023, reaching $8.7 billion. Additionally, iPhone shipments increased by 39% year-on-year during the same period, totalling 9.2 million units. This makes India the fifth largest market for iPhones globally.

Interestingly, India's iPhone business outpaced any single country within the European Union during 2023. This highlights India's growing importance as a key market for Apple amidst its global operations.

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