Google’s First Made-in-India Pixel 8 Smartphone Begins Production

Google has declared the commencement of production for its first Made-in-India Pixel 8 smartphones, marking a significant step towards India's goal of becoming a global manufacturing base. This information comes just before Google's Made by Google event in California on 13 August, where the next-generation Pixel 9 Series is expected to be unveiled.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Google India expressed excitement- "Excited to announce that the first of our Made in India Google #Pixel8 devices have started rolling off the production lines." The company also acknowledged India's Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw.

Google has not provided additional information about the production rollout. However, insiders say the business has worked with Foxconn and Dixon subsidiary Padget Electronics to manufacture Pixel devices in India. Wow Tech, Foxconn's wholly-owned subsidiary, is now directing production, while Padget Electronics, in conjunction with Taiwan's Compal Electronics, is set to begin production in September.

This follows Google's statement in October 2023 that it intends to produce Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro devices locally. The business intends to increase its presence in India's expanding premium smartphone market, where Pixel products have historically had a small share. As of the first quarter of 2024, Pixel held a meagre 0.04 per cent of the Indian smartphone market, with an even less proportion in the luxury class. Counterpoint Research forecasts that local manufacturing will help Google boost its market share to 1.5 per cent.

Along with expanding its Pixel business, Google is targeting India as a key export base for Pixel devices headed to Europe and the United States. Following its recent cooperation with HP to manufacture Chromebooks in Chennai, the company's overall plan involves growing its local manufacturing presence.

This development is consistent with the broader trend of technology corporations increasing local production in India. Apple, a major competitor, has greatly increased local iPhone manufacture via Foxconn and Tata Electronics. By the end of FY24, Apple had produced USD 14 billion worth of iPhones in India, accounting for 14 per cent of its global production, with ambitions to increase its manufacturing base in the nation.