Google's Pixel smartphones will soon be assembled in India, according to a business official. This move makes Google the latest tech firm to place a manufacturing bet on the South Asian market.
Google's Senior VP of Devices and Services, Rick Osterloh, said during the company's annual India event on Thursday, October 19, that local manufacture of the current range (including the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro) will begin in India, with shipments of the India-made batch expected to begin in 2024.
The Indian Market
India is an important international market for Google since the country has more users than any other in the globe for a number of Google products. On Thursday, the company announced it will spend over $10 billion in India over the next few years, including a partnership with HP to produce Chromebook computers there, as reported by TechCrunch.
Osterloh stated, without naming those involved, "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 has said that the Indian market for Pixel smartphones is an important one, and the firm is working hard to enhance the quality of customer support it provides to the nation's residents. According to Osterloh, Google's partner F1 Info Solutions has helped the company open service locations in 27 different cities around India.
"From the very onset of our hardware business, we committed to building and investing for the long run. This is an early step in a long journey of expanding our device production capacity and helping meet the country's growing demand for Pixel smartphones," he stated.
Also Read : Google Announces New 10-Year Update Policy for Chromebook, Adding Support for Older Devices
Shift From China to India
It is the latest achievement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration that Google has committed to producing its smartphones domestically in India. Modi's government has been courting several large firms to develop their operations in the country.
Google is the latest major company to declare India its manufacturing center of the future. Apple's local assembly of iPhones started a few years ago when it partnered with local factories to produce the device there.
To entice multinational corporations to set up shop in India, the government (led by New Delhi) is providing billions of dollars in subsidies. The incentives are timed well, since many companies, Apple included, are aiming to reduce their dependence on China as a manufacturing hub.
