Apple CEO Tim Cook confirms first India Apple Store will open in 2021

Apple will be opening its first retail outlet in India in 2021, CEO Tim Cook has advised to shareholders, marking the iPhone maker's initial self-owned outlet in an important potential market.

Speaking to investors at the annual shareholder meeting at Apple Park on Wednesday, Cook answered a question from a shareholder about its India retail strategy. In response, Cook confirmed it will be opening its first physical retail outlet in the country in 2021.

Cook offered a further reason for opening up its own outlet, suggesting "I don't want somebody else to run the brand for us."

So far, Apple has had to rely on a network of third-party resellers to sell its iPhones in the country, without any first-party representation. Government restrictions over stores owned by non-Indian firms have caused problems with Apple's creation of an outlet, forcing the retail partnerships.

"We wouldn't be a very good partner in retail," Cook said in response to a question about India. "We like to do things our way."

The Indian government has been loosening its local-sourcing requirements, which are a prerequisite for international firms like Apple to do business directly in the country. One major rule change in Apple's favor is allowing exports to count towards the 30% local sourcing rule, which covers any iPhones or other products locally-produced by Foxconn or Wistron in the country and exported to other territories.

In October, it was reported Apple had leased a location between 20,000 and 25,000 square feet in Mumbai's Maker Maxity mall, spread over three floors. One floor is rumored to be an experience center, a second would be dedicated to retailing, and a third for the service center.

Apple is also anticipated to start online sales in India in late 2020.

11 Comments

seanismorris 1624 comments · 8 Years

About 4 years ago

Apple sells iPhones in the US within Walmart, Best Buy, Costco, etc.
How is India any different?
I assume iPhones are already sold within India’s wireless providers stores... Are they not 3rd parties?

It’s great Apple will have their own branded stores, but it’s probably about selling accessories and getting their cut, and not ‘doing things our way’.

[Deleted User] 0 comments · 9 Years

seanismorris said:

Apple sells iPhones in the US within Walmart, Best Buy, Costco, etc.
How is India any different?
I assume iPhones are already sold within India’s wireless providers stores... Are they not 3rd parties?

It’s great Apple will have their own branded stores, but it’s probably about selling accessories and getting their cut, and not ‘doing things our way’.

I used to go to India a bit for work but that was 12ish years ago so please take anything I say with a grain of salt. At the time the mobile market was a bit of a mess and the stores that sold mobile phones weren't carrier stores or national chains like Walmart, Best Buy, Costco and Target. It was a lot of little one off shops. You would buy a phone and typically a prepaid sim from a local carrier. I am sure they have plans but for me it was always a prepaid sim. I didn't get the sense these stores were ever really linked and as such Apple would have just about zero control over the retail experience. I would also that this creates a sizable blackmarket/greymarket situation. Those two things have to make hardware service a bit of a nightmare. Apple clearly has a relationship with the U.S. big box stores and has a say in how products are displayed and presented. My guess is Target, Best Buy ... don't invest in these uniform Apple fixtures on their own. Opening retail stores in country would allow Apple to have the relationship with the customers directly and not rely on resellers that they have no control over. It also would address black-market products and help customers with hardware service. All of these things combined help build the brand in country. I think that is what he is talking about when he says "doing things our way". I would hazard a guess that the ROI for opening an Apple retail store just to go after the accessory market is pretty terrible.

anantksundaram 20390 comments · 18 Years

Notwithstanding the usual naysayers that might appear, this is a big deal. Opening stores in key cities will be a huge deal for expanding share in India, given how high-touch, DiFM (not DiY) the culture it is.

Anilu_777 577 comments · 8 Years

Great news! India is a hard market to crack and I’m glad Apple will be there physically so Indians can get a hands-on experience in a real Apple Store. It’s very different to a small shop.

photography guy 142 comments · 15 Years

Opening stores and development centers in India will be a big deal for both Apple and India. What I'm hoping is that Apple can negotiate a deal where they can sell their stuff at equivalent prices with other parts of the world instead of the ridiculous 30-50% mark-ups that you currently have to pay to buy and iPhone, iPad or MacBook here. Apple's own brick&mortar as well as online stores will also help in terms of service and support.

You can buy Apple products here, but the sales people know almost nothing about them, so you're pretty much on your own.