Google To Open Retail Stores In India

India-West News Desk

NEW DELHI – Google is close to finalizing locations for its first-ever physical retail stores outside the U.S., with India emerging as the chosen market, according to Reuters.

The tech giant, which has committed $10 billion in investments in the country, currently operates only five physical stores, all in the United States, where it sells Pixel phones, watches, and earbuds.

The move is seen as an effort to replicate Apple’s successful retail strategy, which has helped the iPhone maker generate billions globally.

While the IT hub of Bengaluru was considered, New Delhi and Mumbai are the leading contenders for Google’s initial stores, a source told Reuters.

Google already sells its products in India through authorized retailers, much like Apple did before launching its own outlets.

In 2023, Apple CEO Tim Cook inaugurated the company’s first stores in Mumbai and New Delhi. Google’s expansion into physical retail comes as it faces regulatory and legal scrutiny in India, including antitrust cases related to its in-app billing system and dominance in the smart TV sector, Reuters reported.