Apple store India launch delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic

Apple has delayed its plans to launch its first offline store in India due to the COVID-19 pandemic. CEO Tim Cook last year announced that the first physical Apple stores would open in the country starting 2021.

Apple has been working to establish its native retail presence in the Indian market for some time. Last September, the company started its online store to begin its retail business in the country. For Apple India is the most promising market that’s becoming one of the key focus countries for the iPhone market.

It was considered as a strategic move by Apple to stand against traditional e-commerce players including Amazon and Flipkart that also sell devices such as the iPhone, iPad, and MacBook.

Apple has also ramped up manufacturing in the country with the most recent iPhone 12 also now being assembled here. It currently manufactures the iPhone 11, iPhone SE 2020, iPhone XR, iPhone 7 and iPhone 6s.

Earlier, a report in The Indian Express had confirmed the same development. There have been news about Apple’s offline stores coming to India since the past couple of years. Apple CEO Tim Cook had said last year that the company plans to set up its native presence in the Indian retail sector.

Currently, the company sells its devices in the country through distributors who operate under a franchise retail network. Apple, however, wants to penetrate deeper into the market by establishing its own physical stores.