Google to Produce Pixel Phones in India: Introducing Pixel 8

Highlights

1. Google is planning to produce Pixel smartphones locally in India, with the first locally manufactured Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro expected to be available in the market in 2024.
2. The Indian government’s “Make in India” initiative, which offers incentives for global tech firms to increase local production, has prompted Google to support the initiative and manufacture Pixel phones in India.
3. Google has been in talks with potential manufacturing partners in India, including Lava International, Dixon Technologies India, and Bharat FIH, Foxconn’s Indian unit.
4. In addition to local production, Google is also expanding its service network in India to support the anticipated increase in Pixel phone sales.

Google to Manufacture Pixel Phones in India

Google is set to produce its Pixel smartphones locally in India, with the first locally manufactured Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro expected to hit the Indian market in 2024. The company is currently in talks with international and domestic manufacturers in the country for the project. This move comes as Google aims to expand its service network across India and tap into the immense growth potential of the country’s market.

Google’s Success in the Smartphone Industry

Despite entering the smartphone hardware business relatively late, Google has quickly become one of the major players in the industry. Its Pixel phones have gained a strong fan base worldwide and are considered among the top flagship options in the Android space, competing directly with Samsung’s S-series models.

India: A Lucrative Market for Google

India, as the world’s most populous country, offers Google a massive market with significant growth opportunities. The Indian government, led by Narendra Modi, has been encouraging global tech firms to increase local production through the “Make in India” initiative, offering incentives of up to $2 billion. Google has already pledged support for this initiative by partnering with HP to produce Chromebooks locally. Now, the company plans to launch “Made in India” Pixel phones as well.

Manufacturing Partners and Details

Though Google hasn’t disclosed the manufacturing partners for its Pixel phones in India, it has been reported that the company is in talks with Lava International, Dixon Technologies India, and Bharat FIH, Foxconn’s Indian unit. Specifics such as the location of the manufacturing plants, capacity, and starting date remain unknown, but with the expected arrival of the first batch of “Made in India” Pixel phones in the market next year, it is likely that Google is close to finalizing its plans. The company has promised to provide more information in the coming months.

Google’s Commitment to India

Rick Osterloh, senior vice president of devices and services at Google, expressed that India is a priority market for Pixel smartphones. He stated, “India has established itself as a truly world-class hub for manufacturing, resulting in a thriving environment for businesses to flourish.” Google aims to bring the best of its hardware and software capabilities to people across the country.

Expansion of Google’s Service Network

In anticipation of increased sales due to local production, Google is expanding its service network in India. Currently, in partnership with F1 Info Solutions, the company operates 28 service centers in 27 cities across the nation. It plans to extend its services to more locations and cities in the coming months. The effectiveness of local production in boosting Google’s Pixel sales in India remains to be seen.