India is finally getting its first Apple Store seven years after Apple initially said it planned to open one in the country.
Until now, Apple customers in India looking for a retail experience have had to rely on third-party sellers. Apple announced plans to open one of its signature Apple Stores in 2016, but it has only recently become a reality.
According to Quartz, the first store will be opening in Mumbai, in the Jio World Drive shopping mall. Apple has not officially commented on an opening date, but rumors suggest it will be later this month.
The news comes at a time when Apple is increasing its relationship with India in response to global tensions with China. Western governments are cracking down on China, introducing more and more sanctions on the country’s tech industry.
Apple has been looking to move more of its production to other countries, with India and Vietnam two of the main alternatives. The company reportedly wants to move as much as a quarter of its iPhone production to India and is assembling the iPhone 14 in-country.
