On September 1, after nearly 15 years at the helm, Tim Cook will step down as Apple's Chief Executive Officer, passing the baton to John Ternus, the company's head of hardware engineering. Cook, however, will remain with Apple as executive chairman. His departure marks the end of a transformative era that saw Apple's market capitalization soar from approximately $350 billion in 2011 to nearly $4 trillion today.
Cook's legacy is profoundly marked by his strategic pivot towards India, a country that evolved from a minor market to a cornerstone of Apple's global growth. When Cook first visited India in 2016, Apple's presence was minimal, characterized by modest sales, no retail stores, and negligible manufacturing. Today, India stands as one of Apple's most significant success stories, boasting record revenues, six operational Apple Stores, and contributing a quarter of the world's iPhone output.
India: A Manufacturing and Retail Powerhouse
The transformation under Cook's leadership has been multifaceted. On the manufacturing front, Apple now assembles roughly 25% of its global iPhones in India, with an estimated 55 million units produced in 2025—a 53% year-on-year increase. Key partners like Foxconn, Tata Electronics, and Pegatron operate under India's Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. Notably, the entire iPhone 17 lineup was manufactured in India ahead of its 2025 launch. Exports from India surpassed $12.8 billion in 2024, with more than half of iPhones sold in the United States now assembled in India.
Retail expansion has mirrored this manufacturing surge. Cook inaugurated Apple’s first two retail stores, Apple BKC in Mumbai and Apple Saket in Delhi, in 2023. Since then, the company has expanded its footprint to six stores, adding outlets in Bengaluru, Pune, Noida, and Mumbai’s Borivali.
Record Sales and Market Share Gains
Beyond manufacturing, India has become a critical demand market. Cook has consistently highlighted India's performance in earnings calls, noting that Apple achieved a December quarter revenue record in the country. This growth was driven by unprecedented sales across iPhone, Mac, and iPad, alongside an all-time high in services revenue. According to Counterpoint Research, India reached a 28% value share in the smartphone market by the first quarter of 2026. CyberMedia Research data further indicates that Apple now commands close to 10% smartphone market share in India by volume and over 60% share in the super-premium segment (devices priced above Rs 50,000).
Analysts Weigh In on Cook's Enduring Legacy
Industry analysts commend Cook's proactive engagement with the Indian market. Tarun Pathak, Research Director at Counterpoint Research, noted that Cook “has done an excellent job of uncovering the country's potential and structurally signalling its global importance through multiple lenses.” Pathak believes incoming CEO John Ternus must build upon this foundation, leveraging his strong engineering background to resonate with India's young and aspirational user base.
Prabhu Ram, Vice President of CyberMedia Research's Industry Research Group, views Cook's broader legacy through his disciplined execution and strategic agility. Ram highlights Cook's accelerated diversification of the supply chain beyond China, particularly into Vietnam and India. He states, “Today, India is emerging as a key long-term growth and manufacturing hub for Apple, mirroring the role China played over the past two decades.” Ram anticipates India will be central to Apple's future pivot towards foldable and AI-driven technologies, leveraging the country's robust R&D and AI ecosystem.
“One of Tim Cook's enduring legacies will be the rise of India as a vital cog in Apple's long-term playbook, from manufacturing and supply chain to R&D and domestic market growth,” Prabhu Ram stated, emphasizing Apple’s early innings in India with significant headroom for growth.
As Cook transitions to his new role, the groundwork he laid in India positions the country as an indispensable pillar for Apple's continued success in the coming decade.