Seems like Google is following Apple's footsteps as the subsidiary of tech behemoth Alphabet Inc., is looking to establish partnerships with Indian suppliers for the local manufacturing of its Pixel smartphones. With this, Google would join the likes of global tech giants to locally manufacture products in India. The tech giant is in talks with homegrown manufacturers such as Lava International, Dixon Technologies and Tawian's Foxconn's Bharat FIH for locally assembling the devices, says a report by news agency Bloomberg.
Alphabet-owned Google assembled around 9 million Pixel devices last year, as per market intelligence firm Counterpoint Research, and according to the Bloomberg report, the discussions in India underscore its plans to shift its production base beyond China and Vietnam. The Pixel is among the highest-rated and sought-after flagship devices.
To recall, last month, Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had held discussions with Google CEO Sundar Pichai at the company’s headquarters in Mountain View, California. Their conversation apparently revolved around PM Modi’s push for local manufacturing and India’s state-backed technology push.
The central government has been encouraging local manufacturing and making India an alternative manufacturing hub, as more smartphone OEMs are looking to reduce dependency on China. To note, Apple's biggest contract manufacturer and partner Foxconn was in a severe crisis last year after the country's strict Covid-related restrictions disrupted the production of new iPhones and other devices in the country.
Apple is also looking to avoid a hit to its business due to tensions between Beijing and Washington.
South Korean tech giant Samsung is also mulling to make India its smartphone manufacturing hub. To this end, it plans to make investments in research and development centers. It is also planning manufacturing facilities to further bolster the competitiveness of its products, the global head of Samsung was quoted as saying in a recent report by The Economic Times.