As Google prepares for the global launch of its next-generation Pixel smartphones, including in India, the company has announced that it has begun shipping made-in-India Pixel 8 devices. This move follows the commitment made by Rick Osterloh, Google’s Senior Vice President for Pixel and Android, at the Google for India conference in New Delhi just 10 months ago. However, it remains uncertain whether the soon-to-be-announced Pixel 9 models will also be manufactured in India.

Pixel 8: The First Made-In-India Google Smartphone

Google’s decision to produce the Pixel 8 in India marks a significant step in the company’s localisation strategy. However, it is important to note that this initiative currently only applies to the standard Pixel 8 model and does not extend to the Pixel 8 Pro or the anticipated Pixel 8a.

“Excited to announce that the first of our Made in India Google Pixel 8 devices have started rolling off the production lines. Grateful for the partnership with Hon'ble Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw as we look forward to bringing the #TeamPixel experience to people across India,” Google India posted on X (formerly Twitter), accompanied by an image of the Pixel 8, which features a dual-camera system on the back.

Google’s global manufacturing partner, Compal, has collaborated with India’s Dixon Technologies to assemble the Pixel 8 locally. This was confirmed by Dixon’s Managing Director, Atul Lall, during the company’s earnings call in July.

India’s push to become a global electronics manufacturing hub is supported by significant government incentives, including cashbacks and subsidies for companies pursuing local production. As a result, 99.2 per cent of India’s domestic smartphone demand is now met by locally assembled devices. In the 2023-2024 financial year, India saw an 8,138 per cent increase in local production, with phones worth $50 billion being manufactured, a remarkable rise from just $2.25 billion a decade ago.

India’s smartphone exports have also surged, with $15.37 billion worth of phones exported in the last financial year, compared to $186.54 million in 2014-2015. Google’s move follows the lead of other tech giants such as Samsung and Apple, as well as the BBK Group, whose brands Oppo, Vivo, OnePlus, iQOO, and Realme all sell made-in-India phones. Xiaomi also assembles its devices in India through Foxconn.

Uncertainty Around Pixel 9 Manufacturing in India

As Google launches its broadest smartphone portfolio to date, with four models lined up—the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold—it is unlikely that these phones will initially be manufactured in India. Currently, the focus remains on producing the Pixel 8 domestically, while the Pixel 9 series is expected to be manufactured elsewhere, at least for the time being. That being said, the Pixel 9 series is slated to be the most widely available Pixel smartphone launch in India with an offline retail partnership with Reliance as Google plans on dramatically ramping up Pixel market share in India from the paltry 0.1 per cent. 

The Pixel 9 series is expected to bring a bold redesign to Google’s smartphone lineup, although processing updates are anticipated to be modest. These new models will continue Google’s emphasis on artificial intelligence, with a particular focus on delivering industry-leading generative AI features.