Apple Eyes India for Growth as iPhone Tops Q1 Sales, Retail & Manufacturing Expand

Apple is doubling down on its India expansion, with CEO Tim Cook reaffirming the company’s commitment to the country. The tech giant recorded its best-ever quarterly results in India, driven by strong iPhone sales in the fiscal Q1 2025, ending December 28, 2024.

During the earnings call, Cook highlighted India’s potential, noting that the iPhone was the top-selling smartphone model in the country during the quarter. “We are particularly keen on India,” he said, adding that Apple set a December-quarter record and is investing aggressively in the region.

Apple’s Retail & Online Expansion in India

Apple has been expanding its retail and online presence in India to strengthen brand engagement. It launched the Apple Store Online in 2020, followed by the Apple Store app (India edition) in January 2024. On the brick-and-mortar front, Apple opened its first two flagship stores in Mumbai (BKC) and Delhi (Saket) in April 2023. Encouraged by their success, the company has announced four new stores in Bengaluru, Pune, Delhi-NCR, and Mumbai.

Apple’s Manufacturing Push Under ‘Make in India’

Apple is also ramping up local manufacturing, with plans to produce the entire iPhone 16 lineup in India, including the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max. This aligns with its ‘Make in India’ strategy, which began in 2017. While Cook did not elaborate on this aspect during the Q1 earnings call, he previously stated, “From a pragmatic point of view, you need to produce there to be competitive.”

Growing Enterprise Adoption in India

Beyond retail and manufacturing, Apple is witnessing increased enterprise adoption. Senior VP & CFO Kevan Parekh highlighted that Zomato has deployed thousands of Macs to drive innovation. Cook also pointed out India’s massive growth potential, calling it the second-largest smartphone market and third-largest for PCs and tablets, signaling significant room for expansion.

Source: The Financial Express