Tim Cook opens India’s first Apple retail store in Mumbai’s BKC, next stop Delhi

Apple’s online store opened in 2020, while its products are also sold on e-commerce websites.

A man takes a picture with Apple CEO Tim Cook during the inauguration of India's first Apple retail store in Mumbai, on 18 April 2023 | Reuters

New Delhi: Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook opened the gates to India’s first Apple store at Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex on Tuesday.

#WATCH | Apple CEO Tim Cook opens the gates to India's first Apple store at Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex pic.twitter.com/MCMzspFrvp

— ANI (@ANI) April 18, 2023

Cook will open the second outlet of the country in a mall in New Delhi’s Saket on 20 April.

People came from different parts of India to catch a glimpse of Chief Executive Tim Cook, who inaugurated the 28,000-sq-foot store and opened it to the public.

Apple’s physical store has taken a long time to open in India, but its products have been available on e-commerce websites, while its online store opened in 2020.

The new store, located in the premier Reliance-owned Jio World Drive mall, emphasises Apple’s growing ambitions for the country, where it has expanded iPhone assembly via contract manufacturers, and also boosted exports.

Bloggers and tech analysts got a peek into the store on Monday night, when several celebrities were also seen meeting Cook.

Cook also tweeted about his first taste of the quintessential Marathi fast food “vada pav” – deep-fried potato dumpling in a bread bun – which he was seen sharing with actor Madhuri Dixit Nene.

Thanks @madhuridixit for introducing me to my very first Vada Pav — it was delicious! https://t.co/Th40jqAEGa

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) April 17, 2023

Apple is pushing to make India a bigger manufacturing base, after negotiating its Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) law which allows 100% FDI in single-brand retail but also mandates that 30% of the sourcing be done from india.

Now, some of Apple’s products, including iPhones, are being assembled here by Taiwanese contract electronics manufacturers Foxconn and Wistron Corp. The company also plans to assemble iPads and AirPods in India.