In a significant development, Google has unveiled its intention to manufacture its renowned Pixel smartphones within the borders of India. This move aligns with India’s ambitions to establish itself as a global manufacturing powerhouse.
Google’s Senior Vice President of Devices and Services, Rick Osterloh, shared this announcement at the annual flagship event, ‘Google for India,’ alongside the distinguished presence of Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw.
Osterloh revealed that local manufacturing is set to commence with the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, which were introduced just a fortnight ago. The initial production of these devices is projected to commence in 2024. Google is poised to collaborate with both domestic and international manufacturers in this endeavor, although specific partners were not disclosed.
“We look forward to sharing more details in the coming months, and can’t wait to bring the magic of Pixel smartphones to more people across the nation,” expressed Osterloh.
This decision comes in the wake of Google’s recent partnership with personal computer manufacturer HP to produce Chromebooks in India. This collaboration is aimed at addressing the escalating demand for affordable PCs in India, particularly within the education sector.
The production of these Chromebooks, initiated by HP on October 2, 2023, transpires at the Flex Facility near Chennai. This facility has been responsible for the assembly of a diverse range of laptops and desktops since August 2020.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw lauded Google’s participation in the “Make in India” initiative, which further bolsters India’s economic narrative by bringing Pixel smartphone manufacturing to the nation.
Additionally, Minister Vaishnaw disclosed that the Indian government has urged Google to initiate the manufacturing of Tensor chips for Pixel phones within an Indian fabrication facility within the next three years. “We have asked them to bring their supply chain partners to India,” he affirmed.
India has set an ambitious target to achieve $300 billion in electronic product manufacturing by the fiscal year 2025-26, offering enticing incentives through its production-linked incentive (PLI) programs to attract device manufacturers seeking to diversify their production outside of China.
Notably, Google’s decision to manufacture Pixel smartphones in India coincides with a time when Indian consumers are displaying a growing appetite for premium products across various product categories.
Google emphasized that India is a priority market for Pixel smartphones, with the lineup experiencing remarkable momentum in the country over recent years. Osterloh noted, “When we set out with our hardware business, we committed to building and investing for the long run. Our plan to manufacture in India is an early step in the long journey of expanding our device production capacity and helping meet the country’s growing demand for Pixel smartphones.”
Furthermore, Google reported that it has established 28 service centers in 27 cities across India in partnership with F1 Info Solutions. The company intends to expand its coverage to additional locations and cities in the forthcoming months.
