Apple Makes a Big Splash in India with Grand Opening of Stores in Mumbai and Delhi by Tim Cook

The opening of two premium Apple stores, one in Mumbai on April 18th, 2023, and the other two days later in Saket, Delhi, was celebrated with great fanfare by urban cosmopolitan and elite middle-class Indians who are mostly tech-savvy. This event was especially significant as it marked the return of Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, to India after a hiatus of six years. Cook's last visit to India was way back in 2016. According to reports, people from all corners of India landed in Mumbai to participate in the grand opening of India's first Apple Store. The festivities included local folk dances accompanied by Bollywood music. One gentleman even arrived at the glass door of the Apple store in Bandra Kurla complex with a 1987 Macintosh SE, which surprised Tim Cook himself. The video clip of this encounter went viral all over the internet. The launch also marked Apple's presence in India for the last 25 years, and it was an important step for the company in expanding its reach in the Indian market. So far, Apple products have been accessible in India either through online channels or a widespread network of resellers. In 2022 alone, Apple shipped smartphones worth six billion dollars to India, a price-conscious market where 95% of the market is dominated by Android phones, making it the world's second-largest smartphone market. With the launch of two premium stores in upmarket Mumbai and Delhi, Apple aims to establish a presence beyond online sales, by providing brick-and-mortar stores where customers can walk in, explore and experience Apple products first-hand. This is important for creating a relationship with the public, who aspires to own an Apple smartphone. This marks a great journey for Apple and a foray deep into the vast and complex Indian market, especially for smartphones, which are no longer a luxury but a necessity. This has been reinforced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mission to make India digital and tech-literate.