Apple could soon open its first physical stores in India, according to a report by The Financial Times. Apple has already started hiring to fill out these stores, with job listings for 12 retail roles at “various locations” throughout the country, including store leaders, senior managers, Genius Bar workers, and more.
At least five employees located in Mumbai and New Delhi have already been hired for the upcoming stores, according to The Financial Times. Apple is also reportedly working on a 10,000 to 12,000-square-foot store in New Delhi, along with several other stores in the country, but it is unclear when they will open.
Apple first made its online store available to customers in India in 2020, with CEO Tim Cook hinting at the possibility of establishing a physical presence in the country during a shareholder meeting around the same time. While Cook initially said that Apple would open its first store in India in 2021, these plans were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and were pushed back a second time last year.
As Apple looks to expand its retail footprint in India, it is also bringing more production to the country. Apple first started making iPhones in India in 2017 and shifted production of the iPhone 14 from China to India following its release.
With Apple looking to distance itself from China for political reasons and cut costs amid rough economic conditions, India may be becoming an increasingly attractive manufacturing hub. It has cheaper manufacturing costs than both China and Vietnam, and a massive smartphone market that Apple has only just begun to tap into.
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(via)
