Google Confirms Plans to Manufacture Pixel Phones in India
In a groundbreaking announcement at the ninth annual Google for India event, Google has revealed its intention to manufacture its popular Pixel phones in India, according to Engadget. This move is a strategic response to the increasing demand for Pixel devices in the country and aligns with India’s “Make in India” initiative.
Rick Osterloh, Google’s Senior Vice President for Devices and Services, has emphasized the importance of India as a critical market for Pixel devices, highlighting Google’s commitment to supporting India’s digital growth.
The plan is set to kick off in 2024 with the production of locally manufactured Pixel 8 smartphones. Google plans to expand this localized production to cover other models in the Pixel lineup as well.
This decision not only highlights India’s significance in the tech industry but also serves as a diversification strategy for Google, reducing supply chain risks exacerbated by ongoing tensions between China and the United States. Other tech giants like Apple have already established local production facilities in India, starting with the local assembly of older iPhone models in 2017. Apple has since released India-made iPhones alongside their Chinese counterparts.
Google’s decision to localize Pixel production is a 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 stated, “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.”
Recognizing India as its largest market for many services, Google has also pledged to invest over $10 billion in the country in the coming years, showcasing its dedication to the Indian market.
India’s increasing domestic demand and supportive government policies, including lower taxes and production-linked incentive schemes, have made it an attractive destination for electronics manufacturing. Pixel smartphones hold a priority status in India for Google, and the company is enhancing its customer service experience by partnering with F1 Info Solutions to operate 28 service centers across 27 Indian cities.
Osterloh further stated, “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 upcoming ‘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 in the global tech map.
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