India, the second-largest smartphone market in the world, has become a significant focus for Apple.
With plans to expand its retail presence and ramp up manufacturing in the country, Apple aims to tap into the immense potential of the Indian market.
This article looks at Apple's upcoming store launches in India and its increased manufacturing efforts.
Expanding Retail Presence
In 2020, Apple opened its first two retail stores in Mumbai and Delhi, catering to the growing demand for Apple products in these cities.
Now, Apple is preparing to open four more stores in Bengaluru, Pune, Delhi-NCR, and Mumbai, signaling its commitment to serving customers across India.
While the timeline for these store launches has not been confirmed, Apple's Senior Vice President of Retail expressed excitement about providing customers with more opportunities to explore Apple products and services.
With over 3,000 employees currently in India, including those working in retail, the addition of four more Apple stores could substantially increase this number.
Apple's investment in the country also extends beyond retail, with the recent opening of a spacious office in Bengaluru, capable of accommodating up to 1,200 employees.
“We’re thrilled to build our teams as we plan to open more stores in India because we’re inspired by the creativity and passion of our customers across this country. 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.”– Apple’s Senior Vice President of Retail
Manufacturing in India
One of Apple's significant moves in India is the expansion of its manufacturing capabilities. The company has commenced manufacturing the entire iPhone 16 lineup, including the high-end Pro models, domestically.
Apple's manufacturing partners, Foxconn and Pegatron, are involved in this production process. This step builds upon Apple's earlier efforts in 2017 when it started manufacturing iPhones in India, beginning with the iPhone SE model. Last year, the company also assembled the iPhone 15 in the country.
By diversifying its production beyond China, Apple aims to reduce its dependence on a single manufacturing base and alleviate any potential impact from rising tensions between the US and China.
Additionally, producing iPhones in India presents an opportunity to tap into the country's rapidly expanding smartphone market.
Price Drops and Global Availability
Thanks to local assembly, the iPhone 16 Pro models manufactured in India have experienced a price drop compared to last year's iPhone 15 Pro models. However, the pricing of the non-Pro models remains unchanged.
Consumers in India will soon be able to purchase the made-in-India iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. Furthermore, these devices will be exported to select countries, making them more readily available worldwide.
It's important to note that the latest iPhone 16 models will not initially ship with AI features, regardless of where they are manufactured.
Apple has confirmed that AI features will first be available in U.S. English through an iOS 18 version arriving in October. Indian consumers will have to wait until 2025 for Apple Intelligence to be introduced in the country.
Apple's commitment to expanding its retail presence and manufacturing capabilities in India showcases the company's recognition of the country's importance as a major market.
By opening more retail stores and manufacturing iPhones domestically, Apple aims to connect with a wider audience and take advantage of the growing demand for its products in India.
As Apple strengthens its presence in India, this move has the potential to boost the company's sales and solidify its position in the global smartphone market.
