Google is planning to move production of some Pixel phones from China to India. According to a report from The Information, the company has also asked for bids from manufacturers in India. This move is being considered due to disrupted manufacturing schedules in China after several Covid-19 lockdowns.
Google has plans to start assembling 500,000 and 1 million units of the Pixel smartphone in India. Local manufacturing will also help the company in keeping the price of Pixel phones lower by avoiding heavy import duty. So, the move will also help the company to improve sales of Pixel smartphones in the country.
The company has yet to take a final decision on the move, so it has declined to comment on reports.
Apple already assembles iPhones in India and is growing its manufacturing capacity. Apple has three contract manufacturers Foxconn, Wistron, and Pegatron who are making iPhones for the company. As per reports, Apple will also start producing iPhone 14 in the country starting Q4 2022. Xiaomi, Samsung, Oppo, and Vivo are already selling locally produced smartphones in the country.
Back in 2019, Google shifted some production of Pixel devices from China to Vietnam but it didn’t work well for the company. Now when India is becoming a manufacturing hub, Google is also planning to bid here.
India is the 2nd largest smartphone maker and different brands make over 120 million smartphone units each year. Although most companies are importing parts from China and other countries to assemble phones here. But manufacturing capacity is growing.
Google will launch the Pixel 7 series and its first smartwatch on October 6. Now when Google is planning to boost the production of Pixel phones, it shows Google’s serious commitment to the smartphone segment.
