"Energy In Mumbai Incredible": Tim Cook Opens India's First Apple Store

Long queues of fans, loud cheers and zillions of selfies marked the opening of the Apple's first retail store in India at Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex today.

Apple CEO Tim Cook threw open the gates to the 28,000 sq ft store this morning to excited fans waiting for hours. Apple's second retail store in India is set to open in national capital Delhi on Thursday.

Soon after the opening, Cook tweeted that the energy is Mumbai is "incredible". "The energy, creativity, and passion in Mumbai is incredible! We are so excited to open Apple BKC - our first store in India," he said. 

An Apple store is aimed at providing a top-notch experience to customers by functioning as a one-stop destination for product sales, services and accessories. These stores are also architectural marvels, adding to an unrivalled customer experience.

The opening of Apple's two retail stores in India has generated much public excitement, especially among users of the tech giant's products. People have travelled from as far as Gujarat and Rajasthan to attend the grand opening of the store.

One fan was seen carrying a vintage Apple computer. He said he had bought in 1984. "I brought this just to show Apple's journey. I bought this in 1984, and since then, have been using Apple products. This is a 2 Megabytes, black and white computer but now Apple is making 4K, even 8K, resolution displays, so Apple has come a long way," said the fan.

Many of those waiting in queue said they had been waiting since last evening. They were seen flashing their Apple products.

One fan said they had been camping outside the store without food and shower for hours.

Another said he has come from Rajasthan. "I am really excited because I might get a chance to meet Tim Cook. I have been using Apple products for 10 years now. I think I will buy something (today), but not sure yet," he said. The fan said he took a flight from Rajasthan to Mumbai and will next travel to Delhi for the opening of Apple's second store in Saket. "Apple devices have made my life so much better," he said, explaining his excitement. 

Visuals showed an excited Cook welcoming the Apple fan who brought in the vintage computer.  

Cook is visiting India for the big launches. Joining in on the excitement surrounding the opening, he tweeted yesterday, "Hello, Mumbai! We can't wait to welcome our customers to the new Apple BKC tomorrow."

The opening of its retail stores underlines Apple's growing plans for India. The tech giant currently has a share of about 4 per cent in India's huge smartphone market dominated by Chinese and South Korean manufacturers, primarily due to high prices of its products. The company is now focusing on a retail push in what is the world's second largest mobile phone market. It has also started expanding its local manufacturing footprint.

"India is a hugely exciting market for us and is a major focus," Cook said during an earnings call in February. "We're putting a lot of emphasis on the market." 

Apple's focus on India as a key market is also aimed at reducing its dependence on China at a time when relations between Washington DC and Beijing are strained.

Cook will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Delhi visit for the store launch, according to reports. The meeting is likely to see discussions on the tech giant's plan for India and how the government can support them.

2023 marks 25 years of Apple presence in India. "This week, as Apple celebrates more than 25 years in India, the company is marking a major expansion with the opening of its first Apple Store locations in the country, along with new environmental initiatives and a key milestone in the rapidly growing community of Indian developers," the company said in a statement.