India, March 12 -- The Apple and Tesla lease deals in Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) have brought exclusive contractual obligations into focus, highlighting their impact on India's rapidly growing retail sector. Exclusivity clauses can significantly impact rental prices in malls, often driving them higher. Experts note that these clauses are a powerful negotiation tool for major brands, particularly anchor stores, allowing them to secure more favourable lease terms.

In 2022, Apple secured a prime space in the Jio World Drive Mall with an exclusivity clause preventing competitors, including Tesla, from opening a retail outlet in the same building. Tesla, however, found a workaround by leasing space in the adjacent Maker Maxity buildi...