Google To Follow Apple’s Footsteps, Plans To Set Up Retail Stores In India

Amid the bullishness of big tech companies about India, Google is now reportedly looking to open its first retail stores outside the US in India. 

Indians might see Google’s retail stores open soon in or around New Delhi and Mumbai as the company is in advanced stages to finalise store locations in these cities, Reuters reported. 

The stores, which will span an area of 15,000 sq ft, are likely to open in six months, the report said, citing sources. 

The company will consider setting up more stores in the near future after the initial stores are set up. The stores will sell the tech giant’s flagship mobile phone Pixel and other devices. 

This comes almost two years after Apple established its retail footprint in India by opening stores in Delhi and Mumbai. In October last year, it was reported that Google was  mulling opening four more retail stores in India. 

Most recently, the company rolled out its Apple Store app in the country last month to augment its bid to strengthen retail sales. The app allows users to purchase Apple products directly while receiving customised shopping recommendations.

The company launched its latest iteration of its flagship iPhone series, iPhone 16e, on Wednesday (February 19). Today, the company said that the newly launched model is being assembled through its contract manufacturers in India for domestic users and will also be exported to other countries.

“The entire iPhone 16 lineup, including iPhone 16e, is being assembled in India for Indian consumers and for export to select countries,” it said. 

For Google, the development comes at a time when India has emerged as a big market for the company. Just yesterday, the tech major announced the opening of its new campus, Ananta, in Bengaluru. 

“Increasingly, we have been building from India, for the world…. Today, we are excited to share another major milestone in our ongoing commitment to India, with the inauguration of Ananta—one of Google’s largest offices globally. Located in Bengaluru, one of the world’s fastest-growing tech hubs, Ananta is one of our most ambitious ground-up developments,” the company said in a blogpost on February 19. 

Besides these tech companies, the US-based EV maker Tesla is also close to finalising showrooms to sell its EVs in Delhi and Mumbai. The Elon Musk-led company has reportedly finalised locations in Delhi’s Aerocity and Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex for its showrooms.