Google has declared its intention to manufacture its Pixel smartphones, including the upcoming Pixel 8 series, in India starting in 2024.
What Happened: Google unveiled its plans on Thursday, stating its intention to partner with both international and local manufacturers to produce Pixel smartphones in India. This move not only supports the Indian government’s “Make in India” initiative but also forms a key part of Google’s long-term investment strategy in the country. India, being a priority market for Pixel smartphones, has proven to be a world-class manufacturing hub, the company said in a press release.
“Today we see an even greater opportunity to make Pixel smartphones available to more people in India, and are very excited to announce our plan to manufacture Pixel smartphones in India,” said Rick Osterloh senior vice president, devices & services at Google.
The company also emphasised its dedication towards enhancing the Pixel smartphone experience and expanding its service network across the country. Currently, Google has 28 service centres across 27 Indian cities.
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The announcement comes just days after Google CEO Sundar Pichai held a virtual meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Why It Matters: Google’s interest in exploring India as a viable manufacturing base was reported earlier this year when the tech giant initiated discussions with potential Indian partners including Lava International, Dixon Technologies, and Foxconn's Indian unit Bharat FIH. These companies had already secured production-linked incentives from the Indian government, a move that had previously stimulated local manufacturing.
Adding to this, Google's decision to hire Sreenivasa Reddy, a seasoned professional with experience at other Big Tech firms, to lead its government affairs efforts in India in July 2023, hinted at the company’s serious intent. Reddy, who previously held senior positions at Apple and Ericsson AB, played a crucial role in driving domestic manufacturing initiatives.
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