Google has unveiled that it has commenced the sale of its indigenously produced Pixel 8 smartphones in India, a move coming nearly 10 months after the tech giant shared its plans to manufacture the devices locally, just as the tech community anticipates the launch of the Pixel 9 series later in the week.
TechCrunch received confirmation from the Android behemoth that this initiative of local production presently encompasses only the Pixel 8 model, excluding the Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 8a versions.
Back in October, Google declared its ambition to start assembling its Pixel smartphone series within India to bolster its market share in the Indian mobile market, which is only second in size to China’s, and to leverage India’s expanding manufacturing capabilities.
By Monday, Google followed up with news that the initial batch of Pixel 8 devices crafted in India has begun to emerge from the production lines.
While Google has kept the identities of its local manufacturing collaborators under wraps, TechCrunch learned from sources that Compal, Google’s global manufacturing ally, has entered into an initial agreement with Dixon Technologies in India to locally assemble the Pixel 8 units. During a July earnings call, Dixon’s Managing Director, Atul B Lall, hinted at their cooperation with Compal, though without offering extensive details, as indicated in a news piece.
The Indian capital, New Delhi, has been strenuously encouraging international electronics brands to undertake manufacturing within the country as a strategy to rival China and other global production powerhouses. To this effect, the Indian government has earmarked billions in incentives, providing cashbacks and subsidies to enterprises engaging in local manufacturing.
A staggering 99.2% of local mobile phone demand is now met through in-country production, as revealed by the state minister for electronics and IT, Jitin Prasad, in a recent session of the Indian parliament. The nation has witnessed an extraordinary surge in local mobile phone production, jumping to $50 billion in value in the 2023-24 financial year, a monumental rise from $2.25 billion in 2014–15. In a parallel advancement, exports of locally manufactured mobile phones escalated to $15.37 billion in 2023–24 from just $186.54 million in 2014–15.
Besides Google, major players like Apple and Samsung have initiated device manufacturing within India for local consumption and for exporting to assorted emerging markets. Chinese firms such as Xiaomi and Oppo have also established local production capacities to meet the domestic demand, although their export percentages remain marginal at best.
Google is poised to conduct its hardware event this Tuesday, where it’s anticipated to reveal the Pixel 9 lineup, including the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Pixel Watch 3. Additionally, discussions are expected around its Gemini AI enhancements tailored for handheld gadgets.
Compiled by Techarena.au.
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