Talks about Apple‘s first official online store in India have been gaining momentum since August 2019, when the Government of India relaxed the FDI rule for single-brand retailers. According to the latest report, the Cupertino-based tech giant is all set to launch its official online store in India next month. Notably, the Apple online store was earlier reported to launch in the first quarter of 2020.
Also read: Apple to open its first offline store in India next year, online store in Q3 2020
It was then delayed to Q3 2020 as announced by the CEO Tim Cook in a shareholder meeting held in February 2020. It seems that the brand is on track with its plan. Apple also has plans to open two brick and mortar stores in the country next year, in Mumbai and Bengaluru.
Apple to open official online store in India next month
Apple will also launch two official retail outlets in the country next year
As per a report by Bloomberg Quint, Apple’s online store will go live in September ahead of the Dussehra-Diwali festive season in India. Currently, the brand sells its smartphones in India through franchise partners’ stores, Amazon and Flipkart. Having its official online store in the country will help Apple level the field with its competitors and have direct control over pricing.
Citing sources close to the matter, the publication also reported that the brand has plans to open its first brick-and-mortar store in Mumbai next year, followed by another store in Bangalore. The company has already selected the Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai for its store, and has scouted half a million square feet of space right in the heart of Bengaluri near Minsk Square for the second outlet.
Apple has also been ramping up its manufacturing presence in the country. The company is already assembling four of its iPhone models in India through its manufacturing partners Foxconn Technology Group and Wistron Corp in Chennai and Kolar, respectively. Another assembly partner, Pegatron Corp. will soon set up its first plant in India as well.