Google has officially announced the commencement of production for its first-ever Made-in-India Pixel 8 smartphones, marking a significant milestone in the tech giant’s efforts to contribute to India’s growing ambition to become a global manufacturing hub. This development comes just one day before Google’s highly anticipated “Made by Google” event in California, where the next-generation Pixel 9 series is expected to be unveiled.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Google India shared the exciting news: “Excited to announce that the first of our Made in India Google #Pixel8 devices have started rolling off the production lines.” The company also expressed its gratitude to Electronics & Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for his support in bringing the #TeamPixel experience to consumers across India.
The announcement underscores Google’s strategic move to scale up its Pixel smartphone business in India, the world’s second-largest smartphone market. The initiative, first revealed in October 2023, aims to address the rising demand for premium smartphones among Indian consumers. By manufacturing locally, Google expects to make its Pixel devices more accessible and widely available across the country.
India currently holds a minimal share of the global smartphone market, with Google’s Pixel brand accounting for just 0.04% of the Indian market as of the March 2024 quarter, according to data from Counterpoint Research. In the premium segment, Pixel’s market share is below 1%. However, with local manufacturing, experts estimate that Google could increase its market share to 1.5%.
Further enhancing its commitment to India, Google’s parent company, Alphabet, is also planning to produce drones through its subsidiary Wing LLC in the country. This follows a partnership last year between Google and HP to manufacture Chromebooks at a Flex facility in Chennai, catering primarily to the educational sector’s demand for affordable PCs.
This latest move by Google aligns with its broader strategy to establish India as a key export hub for Pixel smartphones destined for markets in Europe and the United States. The launch of the Made-in-India Pixel 8 devices represents a significant step towards achieving this goal, positioning India as a vital player in Google’s global supply chain.
With the official production now underway, the tech community is eagerly awaiting further announcements at the “Made by Google” event, where the future of the Pixel series is set to be revealed.
