Apple chief Tim Cook snubs Donald Trump, gives another gift to India as tech giant to open…

Amid Donald Trump’s recent threat to impose 25% import tariffs on Apple if the tech giant increases its iPhone production in India, the company has announced to open its third retail store in the country. The new Apple Store will be opened in the Phoenix Mall of Asia in Bengaluru, according to a Business Standard report.

New Apple Store to open in Bengaluru

As per the report, Apple’s new retail store, its third in India, is spread across over 8,000 square fee, almost equal to its counterpart in Delhi, but smaller than the company’s flagship store in Mumbai, which is spread across a whopping 20,800 square feet. The upcoming Apple Store in Bengaluru will feature all the distinctive and recognizable features associated with the company’s retail outlets, including a minimalist design, professional staff dressed in Apple uniforms, and an abundance of glass.

Apple has leased the space for 10 years, and will pay 2 percent of its total earnings as rent for the first three, which will increase to 2.5 percent for the remaining lease period, according to the report. The lease period began from November 8, 2024, and rent will start August 8, 2025, which means the store will likely open in next few months, presumably in late July or early August.

Apple’s India plan

Experts believe that the new Apple Store is more than just another retail store, but a part of company’s larger plan to strengthen its roots in India as it plans to stay in the country for a long period, despite Donald Trump’s tariff threats.

Apart from being a giant market for Apple products, India is also emerging as a manufacturing hub for the company, which is evident from its recent assertion that the majority of iPhones that will be sold in the US from June 2025, will carry a “Made in India” tag, while iPads, MacBooks, Apple Watches and AirPods will be shipped from Vietnam.

However, things are expected to become difficult for Apple if it chooses to increase iPhone manufacturing in India, defying Donald Trump’s diktat, who has threatened to impose 25% import tariffs on iPhones manufactured outside the United States.

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