Google plans to start producing its Pixel smartphones in India by the next quarter, CNBC reported on Thursday, citing Nikkei Asia. The US tech giant is looking to diversify its supply chain away from China and capitalise on the growing smartphone market in India.
The move will support Google’s goal of shipping more than 10 million Pixel phones this year. The company will begin manufacturing Pixel 8 Pro phones in the April-June quarter, followed by the production of the Pixel 8 around the middle of 2024.
Google will be competing with smartphone giants Apple and Samsung in India, as well as Chinese brands Vivo and Xiaomi. India has become a key market for Apple, with the country exceeding 10 million iPhone unit sales in 2023.
India’s smartphone market-maintained stability in 2023, with 148.6 million shipments overall. Samsung held the top position in Q4 2023, followed by Xiaomi and Vivo.
Apple has also been shifting production from China to India, as US-China relations remain tense. India has been offering incentives to companies for setting up manufacturing operations in the country, and Google’s move to produce Pixel smartphones in India aligns with this trend.
