Google to make Pixel phones and drones in India
Tech giant Google will soon start manufacturing its Pixel smartphones in India, according to sources who spoke to the BBC.
Google will produce the phones at an existing Foxconn facility in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. Additionally, the company plans to independently manufacture drones in the state.
India has become a key destination for global companies seeking to diversify their supply chains outside of China amid geopolitical tensions with the West.
Last year, Google announced plans to begin making Pixel smartphones in India, starting with the Pixel 8.
“India is a priority market for Pixel smartphones, and we’re committed to bringing the best of our hardware and underlying built-in software capabilities to people across the country,” Google stated in a blog post.
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On Friday, sources informed the BBC that Alphabet’s Google will manufacture advanced versions of Pixel smartphones at the Tamil Nadu facility, with production starting within this calendar year. Google and Foxconn have signed a contract to facilitate this initiative, the source added.
Foxconn currently operates two facilities in Tamil Nadu. At one of these facilities near Chennai, it assembles Apple’s iPhones.
Google’s decision to produce Pixel phones in Tamil Nadu follows recent meetings between state officials and company executives.
According to a statement from the Tamil Nadu government, Google officials are also scheduled to meet with the state’s Chief Minister, MK Stalin, in Chennai soon.