LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-WeChat, a Chinese messaging service controlled by Tencent, announced that Apple has established an online store to sell Apple goods such as iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, and Macs.
WeChat’s mini-programs, which are compact apps housed on the messaging platform that offer e-commerce, banking services, and transportation options, have been used by the Cupertino-based company to create the shop and the app.
The iPhone manufacturer also has a store on Alibaba’s Tmall e-commerce platform, which competes with Tencent. This is not Apple’s first effort into opening a store on a Chinese platform, as noted by Reuters.
Additionally, in May of this year, Apple sought to sell its goods through live commerce in the nation.
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China is one of Apple’s most important international markets. According to research firm Counterpoint’s predictions, the iPhone 13 series will hold three of the top three spots in the list of China’s top-selling smartphones in 2022.
Apple has retained its position as the leading handset vendor in China despite a decline in the country’s smartphone market in Q1 2023. The company now holds a 20% market share, up 2% from the same time last year.
However, Apple has been working to diversify its manufacturing sources by aiming to relocate production outside of China.
By 2025, the business plans to shift 20% of the manufacture of the iPad and Apple Watch to Vietnam and 25% of the production of the iPhone to India, according to JP Morgan analysts.