Google Pixel 8 and Google Pixel 8 Pro phones are displayed during a Google product launch event in New York on October 4, 2023. (Photo by Ed JONES / AFP)
In a landmark announcement at the ninth annual Google for India event, the tech giant has confirmed plans to manufacture its popular Pixel phones in India, Engadget reports.
This strategic move, detailed in this latest Google blogpost, comes in response to the rising demand for Pixel devices in the country and aligns with India's ambitious "Make in India" initiative.
Google's Senior Vice President for Devices and Services, Rick Osterloh, has positioned India as one of the most critical markets for Pixel devices, underlining Google's commitment to being a trusted partner in India's digital growth.
The initiative is set to take off in 2024 with the rollout of locally produced Pixel 8 smartphones. Google also intends to expand this local production to cover other models in the Pixel lineup.
Moving the Production Away from China
This decision by Google not only underlines India's significance in the tech industry but also serves as a diversification strategy, reducing supply chain risks that ongoing tensions between China and the United States have exacerbated.
This move by Google mirrors the path taken by other tech giants, like Apple, in establishing local production facilities in India.
In 2017, Apple commenced local assembly of older iPhone models in India, with subsequent improvements leading to the simultaneous release of India-made iPhone 15s alongside their Chinese counterparts.
Google's decision to localize Pixel production is another major victory for India's government, which has actively attracted global device manufacturers, such as Samsung and Apple, to invest in local production.
Rick Osterloh, Senior VP of Devices and Services at Google, shared in a statement, "We are partnering with international and domestic partners to produce Pixel smartphones locally. It's an early step towards expanding our production here to meet the local demands for Pixel devices, and even more importantly, it's a huge step forward in Google's commitment to India."
Google, considering India its largest market for many of its services, has also pledged to invest over $10 billion in the country over the next few years, emphasizing its dedication to the Indian market.
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The Growing Tech Manufacturing in India
India's increasing domestic demand and the government's supportive policies, including lower taxes and production-linked incentive schemes, have made the country an attractive destination for electronics manufacturing.
TechCrunch notes that Pixel smartphones hold a priority status in India for Google, and the company is enhancing its customer service experience there. Partnering with F1 Info Solutions, Google now operates 28 service centers across 27 Indian cities, improving accessibility and service quality for Pixel users.
Osterloh added, "From the very onset of our hardware business, we committed to building and investing for the long run. This is an early step in expanding our device production capacity and helping meet the country's growing demand for Pixel smartphones."
With the forthcoming 'Made in India' Pixel devices, consumers can expect to enjoy the latest Google technology while contributing to the growth of local manufacturing and strengthening India's position on the global tech map.
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