Apple is set to start online sales of Apple products in India "within months," according to a new report from Bloomberg. Apple has not previously been able to sell its devices in India due to foreign investment rules and regulations.

India on Wednesday eased previous rules that forced foreign companies to source 30 percent of production locally, which has long blocked Apple from opening stores and selling devices directly to consumers in India. Instead, Apple has had to rely on third-party retailers to sell its devices.

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Apple is now planning to begin iPhone, iPad, and Mac sales online "in the coming months," though no specific target launch date for sales was specified by Bloomberg.

Now that the rules have changed, Apple is also set to begin opening up retail stores in India in the future and already has retail locations in the works. A new store in Mumbai is in development and is likely set to open next year.

Even prior to the rule change, Apple was working with the Indian government to get permission to open up stores in India. Over the course of the last few years, Apple started manufacturing some lower-cost ‌iPhone‌ models in India to meet local investment requirements.

India is an important market for Apple, as it is a country where Apple devices have low penetration due to high costs from import tariffs. The changes will make Apple devices more affordable to Indian consumers and could grow Apple's footprint in the country.

Tag: India

Top Rated Comments

kshitijshah Avatar
71 months ago
Finally India can now expect
1. the same Genius Bar service levels as the world gets despite paying a significant premium on the iPhone for years
2. localized Siri support for Apple TV
3. HomePod introduction
4. Full range of genuine accessories
5. Hopefully better pricing with more localized manufaturing
6. The full Apple Retail experience
7. Better Apple maps
8. Global standards for Apple Care warranty with Accidental Damage Protection

Hopefully Apple with reciprocate and grab the opportunity the this liberal policy change has provided. If they cant capitalise on this no one should complain of policy being a hindrance in India
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
d5aqoëp Avatar
71 months ago
I wonder how much money was passed under the table to various leadership before Apple got approval.
Oh well, future investment, it's good to have a backup manufacturing location just in case the trade war gets out of hand in China.
Actually zero money was passed. This is not the old India you were used to.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Oblivious.Robot Avatar
71 months ago
I guess it’s got something to do with the recent slowdown in Indian economy? It’s great news for Apple & IKEA too, perhaps Tesla might open shop as well.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/government-liberalises-fdi-norms-approves-75-new-medical-colleges/articleshow/70878123.cms

Seem to have relaxed the norms for several sectors, but sure who’s to stop commenting about corruption & burst someone’s bubble on the fact that world doesn’t revolve around Apple. :rolleyes:
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NickName99 Avatar
71 months ago
I actually went and read the article, but it wasn’t clear why India eased these rules, or by how much. Maybe they didn’t want to miss out on economic opportunities? Apple is already sourcing significant iPhone production in India, even if it’s not 30%.

Apple has been working on this relationship with India for years, so it’s plausible that this is just the fruit of that labor.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ramchi Avatar
71 months ago
Under Indian well organised chaotic democracy, it typically takes two or three TERMS (15 years) for any reforms to get in place through archaic useless bureaucracy (lots of such Britishers left over) which is being shredded one after the other by the present regime. Once you are in, then there is no turning back! Ask Pepsi, Coke, Samsung, LG, Hyundai, Nissan, HP, Dell,....

Believe me, it is not easy to maneuver vibrant and vocal democracy like India...you can easily negotiate with a single dictator mostly luring him/her on the personal front with lavishness...
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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