India is all set to witness its first Apple store in Bandra, Mumbai. The store’s theme is inspired by “Kali Peeli taxi art, ” a state of art in the city. The showroom is all set to open in Mukesh Ambani’s Jio World Mall.
Apple’s first-ever retail store in India is almost here. The iPhone maker has revealed a picture of the barricade of the upcoming Apple retail store in the country. Mumbai is a hub of trade and entertainment in India. Now it’s a new home for the Apple stores as well.
To be named Apple BKC, the store will be located in India’s financial capital – Mumbai. The move is part of the company’s landmark move to place big bets on the South Asian nation for everything from manufacturing to sales.
Releasing the teaser, the company’s official website reads “Hello Mumbai. We are getting ready to welcome you aboard our first store in India. And raring to see where your creativity takes you at Apple BKC.”
The first retail store is located in the premier Reliance Jio World Drive mall. Home to various luxury clothing and jewelry brands like Michael Kors, Kate Spade, and Swarovski.
The brightly-lit store was “inspired by the iconic Kaali Peeli taxi art unique to Mumbai,”. Apple said in a statement, referring to the city’s decades-old yellow and black taxis.
People were taking selfies and recording videos on their smartphones outside the store on Wednesday evening. With the Apple logo decked out in a variety of colours and a version of the classic Apple greeting showing “Hello Mumbai”.
Further Growth plans
Apple also plans to launch its second India store somewhere in New Delhi in the coming quarters.
Apple has been aggressively hiring employees for its stores in India in recent months, according to recruitment posts. The company, which launched its online store in India in 2020, had initially planned to debut the first retail outlet in 2021 but delayed those plans after COVID struck.
India, the world’s second-largest smartphone market, currently contributes little to Apple’s topline, but the iPhone maker has said in the past that it’s bullish about its prospects in the country.
Apple’s contract manufacturing partners, Foxconn and Wistron, have ramped up local assembling for iPhone and other Apple gadgets in India in recent quarters. In a report last year, JP Morgan analysts estimated that Apple would expand its manufacturing capacity in India to produce 25% of all iPhones by 2025.