Apple’s first retail store in India has been delayed once again due to pandemic-related issues and other supplies getting delayed. The 22,000 sq ft Apple Store is now set to open in 2023 in Mumbai’s Jio World Drive Mall.
Apple pushes back Apple Store Mumbai, India, launch once again
In 2020, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced that the company would open its first official Apple store in India by September 2021. However, the launch was pushed back due to the ongoing pandemic. In August 2021, the launch of the retail store was once again pushed back.
Now, according to India’s Economic Times, the opening of India’s first-ever Apple Store has been pushed back to the first quarter of 2023.
The opening of Apple’s flagship India retail store has been delayed further, with the iPhone maker aiming to debut its first company-owned outlet in the country in Mumbai in the January-March quarter next year.
The reasons are attributed in part to pandemic-related issues such as interior fitting and other supplies getting delayed due to the squeeze in shipping, they said.
The 22,000-square-foot store is set to open in Mumbai’s upscale Jio World Centre as a flagship location comparable to other Apple Stores in New York, Singapore, Hong Kong, and more.
Apple is developing the store as a retail landmark in India, similar to outlets known for their design and architecture in Los Angeles, New York, Beijing, Milan and Singapore.
In addition to this, Apple is already planning to open another store in Dehli and has been recruiting employees for both locations. It ultimately plans to open 4-6 retail locations in the country, helping it establish its presence in the region that is dominated by Chinese competitors such as Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi.
The Cupertino tech giant initially hoped to open physical retail stores in the country right after the launch of its first online store. The launch of an official online store in India helped Apple generate a strong Indian customer base. It also allowed consumers to directly purchase products from the company itself rather than going through third-party retailers.
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