Apple BKC opened today in the heart of Mumbai’s bustling Bandra Kurla Complex financial, arts, and entertainment district. Apple’s first retail location in India will serve as a dynamic space where customers can come together, explore Apple products and services, enjoy exceptional service, and learn how to get more out of their devices through free Today at Apple sessions.
Customers can also participate in a special Today at Apple series, “Mumbai Rising,” running from opening day through the summer that will bring visitors, local artists, and creatives together.
The First Store of Apple in India
This first retail store in India opened its doors to the public on Tuesday — in the country’s financial and entertainment capital Mumbai — as the tech giant looks to India as a new consumer market and a manufacturing base.
The 20,000-square-foot store features Apple’s signature minimalist glass facade and a handcrafted ceiling made out of 408 pieces of timber, per a news release by the company on Sunday.
The store is located within the Bandra Kurla Complex, a facility owned by Indian business tycoon Mukesh Ambani’s conglomerate Reliance Industries.
Apple said in the Sunday release that the store is also “one of its most energy-efficient” locations worldwide, running entirely on renewable energy.
The store employs more than 100 staff who can collectively speak over 20 languages, Apple’s release stated.
Cook’s tweet
Cook posted a tweet on Monday with employees of the store clad in green clothing. The tweet read: “Hello, Mumbai! We can’t wait to welcome our customers to the new Apple BKC tomorrow.”
He also enjoyed his first trip to India in almost seven years by eating a “Vada Pav” — a popular street food in Mumbai akin to a burger, with a spiced fried potato patty placed between a bun — with Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit.
“India has such a beautiful culture and an incredible energy,” Apple’s CEO Tim Cook said in a press release seen by CNN. “We’re excited to build on our long-standing history — supporting our customers, investing in local communities, and working together to build a better future.”
Apple has a second store opening in India. On Thursday, it will open its doors to a new store in the capital city of Delhi, per CNBC.
To be sure, Apple’s new foray into India coincides with its push to move production facilities out of China — particularly after the debacle at China’s largest iPhone factory, Foxconn, which saw thousands of workers fleeing amid a COVID-19 outbreak.
The Wall Street Journal reported on December 3 that Apple has accelerated its plans to shift some of its production outside China, a country that has long since held up the company’s supply chain. The WSJ also reported that the company is telling suppliers to assemble products in other Asian countries like India and Vietnam.
The push for a new customer base could also be a result of dwindling revenues. Apple posted first-quarter revenues of $117.2 billion, which were down 5% year-on-year.
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