Google announced the rollout of its first Made-in-India Pixel 8 smartphones on August 12, marking a significant step towards boosting India’s position as a global manufacturing hub. This announcement comes just a day before the “Made by Google” event in California on August 13, where the Pixel 9 Series is expected to be unveiled.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Google India shared its excitement about the Pixel 8 devices rolling off production lines in India and expressed gratitude to Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for his support. While further details weren’t provided, earlier reports revealed that Google partnered with Foxconn and Dixon subsidiary Padget Electronics for Pixel’s commercial production in India, following a trial run in Tamil Nadu.
This move is part of Google’s strategy to scale up its Pixel smartphone business in India, aiming to capitalize on the growing demand for premium smartphones in the world’s second-largest market. Despite holding a small market share in India as of March 2024, local manufacturing is expected to help Pixel increase its presence, with projections aiming for a 1.5 percent market share.
In addition to the local market, Google plans to make India a key export hub for Pixel smartphones, serving markets in Europe and the U.S. These efforts align with similar initiatives by Apple, which has significantly expanded its iPhone production in India and plans to manufacture a quarter of its devices in the country over the next few years.
