(ANSA) - NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 23 - Apple today launched its first online store in India, through which it will sell directly to customers.
The Cupertino-based company has been present in the country for 20 years, but today's opening marks a milestone for its expansion projects in one of the largest markets in the world.
The iPhone manufacturer also announced that it will open its first store by 2021.
Until last year, Apple, like all other foreign manufacturers, was not allowed to run direct stores unless it used at least 30 percent of its locally produced pricing materials. : the numerous apple shops in India were therefore owned by Indians.
The requirement was lifted in 2019, when the government passed rules more favorable to foreign investment.
To contain the prices of iPhones, prohibitive if compared to competing smartphones, Apple has started to produce them in the country since 2017, and recently also announced the production of the iPhone 11 in the subcontinent.
Today's launch marks perfect timing: it coincides with the beginning of the shopping season in view of Diwali, the "festival of lights": in the next six weeks India will go shopping.
And Covid will facilitate, in all product sectors, the preference for online shopping.
(HANDLE).