The move will be a big booster to govt’s Make in India programme and electronics manufacturing initiative. It will also strengthen India’s place in the global smartphone manufacturing ecosystem, which has been gaining ground after Apple relocated a significant part of its production here from China.
The latest development follows Google’s announcement in October last year that making Pixel in India is on its agenda.The company had said then it was talking to potential manufacturing partners and supply chain ecosystem for localising Pixel8 and its versions.
“Dixon has been chosen to make Pixel in India. Trial production is expected to begin soon,” sources within govt and industry told TOI. “Google wants to use India production for catering to needs of domestic market and potentially for exports as well,” the sources added.
When contacted, Dixon refused to comment, while its chairman Sunil Vachani could not be reached out.
Google’s seriousness on manufacturing in India was made clear when Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai spoke about it in October. “We shared plans at #GoogleforIndia to manufacture Pixel smartphones locally and expect the first device to roll out in 2024. We’re committed to being a trusted partner in India’s digital growth – appreciate the support for Make In India,” he said on micro-blogging platform X.
Sources said Google had been engaged in talks with various potential partners for over a year and Dixon was zeroed in recently.
Apart from India’s growing competitiveness in making smartphones, Google is also enthused by benefits extended under the production-linked incentives scheme for mobile phone manufacturers.
