Vivo is preparing to launch one of India’s largest mobile phone manufacturing facilities next month, as reported by The Economic Times. Situated in Greater Noida, the new plant boasts an annual capacity of 120 million devices and represents an investment exceeding ₹3,000 crore.
The company is actively seeking an Indian partner to oversee its manufacturing operations. Talks have been held with several potential collaborators, including the Tata Group, the Murugappa Group, and Indian contract manufacturer Dixon Technologies. However, final agreements have yet to be reached due to differences over valuation. “Vivo aims to establish a robust partnership in India for its operations. While discussions are ongoing, no joint venture has been finalized yet,” a source mentioned in the report stated.
Recently, Vivo vacated its previous manufacturing unit, which had an annual capacity of 40 million devices and was leased. This facility has now been taken over by Micromax Informatics’ unit, Bhagwati Enterprises.
Spanning 170 acres, Vivo’s new manufacturing facility rivals Samsung’s largest mobile phone plant in India, inaugurated in 2018 with a similar annual capacity of 120 million units.
The Tata Group, initially in discussions with Vivo, has shifted focus to integrating Wistron’s local unit, acquired last year from the iPhone contract manufacturer. Dixon Technologies confirmed preliminary talks with Vivo for a joint venture, akin to its recent deal with Transsion Holdings. Dixon announced plans in April to acquire a majority stake in Transsion’s Ismartu India unit, aiming for eventual ownership of approximately 55%.
Amid ongoing border tensions, Chinese companies, including Vivo, have faced heightened scrutiny from Indian tax and foreign exchange authorities. While the Indian government encourages Chinese smartphone brands to partner with local entities, it has assured that failing to do so will not jeopardize their investments in the Indian market.
