Reasons Why India Is Apple CEO Tim Cook’s Favorite Country

Harin - Aug 02, 2019

CEO Tim Cook said he is extremely “happy about” India. Here is why Apple has returned to its growth trajectory in India.

While Apple shipments decrease globally, there is an increase in the Indian market. Counterpoint reports that iPhone shipments in India have seen a growth of 19%, whereas globally, the statistics fell by 19%.

It won’t be fair to say that Apple’s venture into the Indian market has been easy. OnePlus’ rise, as well as fierce competition from Samsung, has caused the Cupertino giant to fall into the third spot in the country’s premium smartphone market.

However, it seems like things have changed for the better for Apple with the revelation of the company’s recent earnings, to the point that CEO Tim Cook said he is extremely “happy about” India. Here’s why Apple has returned to its growth trajectory in India.

The iPhone XR, the most affordable one among the company’s new iPhone lineup, has been a total game-changer. Counterpoint reveals that. The sales of iPhone XR has contributed about 50% in the rise of iPhone shipments in the country.

Apple-Iphone-Xr — The iPhone XR, the most affordable one among the company’s new iPhone lineup, has been a game-changer.

The company’s offers, deals, and discounts have made a difference. The iPhone XR’s official price is Rs 76,900, and through promotional schemes, buyers can get it for Rs 53,900 which seems to have contributed to the increased sales.

Apple has made the right decision to put iPhones on sale on Amazon. Earlier this year, the company made a deal with the giant e-commerce Amazon to start selling its products on the platform.

Tim Cook, in an earnings call, has talked about India, “India bounced back during the quarter, we returned to growth there. We're very happy with that.” For the previous quarter, Apple has witnessed double-digit growth in the Indian market, according to Luca Maestri, Apple CFO.

Manufacturing in India will help Apple to lower its products’ prices. The Cupertino giant has started making iPhones in India, which may lead to a 20% import duty reduction. This means it is possible that consumers may buy iPhones at even lower prices.

With the release of new iPhones coming soon which coincides with the festive season in the country, Apple could even see a further sales boost.