Apple is considering opening two new Chinese stores in the major cities of Chengdu and Shenzhen – incidentally exactly where it makes its products, Reuters reports.
With the Proview court case still looming over Apple’s position in China, it’s unclear what exactly will happen, especially as Proview lawyer Roger Xie stated that if Apple attempted to sell their tablets there, it would seek an injunction to block it.
Apple will want to expand its presence in China, and the Shanghai and Beijing stores being the most popular Apple stores in the world, stores in Chengdu and Shenzhen would no doubt meet with equal amounts of success.
It has already submitted applications to the relevant authorities in both cities and is understood to be in the final stages of the process.
Chengdu and Shenzhen are Foxconn hubs, so the factory worker would only have to cross the street to buy the product he or she just built!
However it will be interesting to see in the long run how Apple deals with piracy in a country that’s filled with it. Whole fake Apple stores have been created, and even the employees thought they were working for the real thing!
