Google is making waves in the Indian tech market with the launch of its locally assembled Pixel 8 devices. This move comes nearly 10 months after Google first revealed plans to produce its smartphones in India and just before the anticipated unveiling of the Pixel 9 series later this week.
The tech giant has confirmed that, for now, local manufacturing is limited to the Pixel 8. The Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 8a remain produced abroad. This strategy aligns with Google's broader ambition to deepen its footprint in the Indian smartphone market, the second-largest globally after China, while capitalizing on India's burgeoning manufacturing sector.
On Monday, Google announced that the first batch of Made-in-India Pixel 8 devices has officially rolled off the production lines. While the company has yet to reveal its local manufacturing partners, sources have indicated that Compal, Google's global manufacturing ally, has teamed up with India's Dixon Technologies for this assembly project. Dixon’s MD, Atul B Lall, confirmed this partnership during July’s earnings call, although specific details were not disclosed.
The Indian government has been actively encouraging global tech brands to set up local production facilities, offering substantial incentives to boost domestic manufacturing. As a result, India has dramatically increased its local mobile phone production, meeting 99.2% of domestic demand. The value of locally manufactured mobile phones surged to $50 billion in the 2023-24 financial year, a massive leap from $2.25 billion in 2014-15. Export figures have also soared, reaching $15.37 billion in 2023-24 from just $186.54 million in 2014-15.
In addition to Google, other major players like Apple, Samsung, and several Chinese firms, including Xiaomi and Oppo, are also manufacturing their devices in India to meet local and regional demand. However, exports from these companies have been relatively modest.
As Google gears up for its hardware event on Tuesday, the spotlight will shift to the new Pixel 9 series, including the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Pixel Watch 3, along with anticipated updates to its Gemini AI for mobile devices. This event is expected to further highlight Google’s commitment to innovation and local manufacturing in India.
