Google has announced plans to assemble its Pixel series smartphones in India. Rick Osterloh, Google’s senior vice president of devices and services, revealed that the production of Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro devices will commence in India, with these locally manufactured phones hitting the market next year.

“We are collaborating with both international and domestic partners to manufacture Pixel smartphones locally. This marks our initial stride in broadening our manufacturing presence to meet the rising local demand for Pixel devices. Importantly, it underscores Google’s deepened commitment to India,” Osterloh stated during the company’s annual event in India.

This development comes after Google’s recent collaboration with HP for manufacturing Chromebook laptops within India, indicating the company’s proactive engagement with the country’s growing tech manufacturing landscape.

Google is not alone in this endeavor; several other major technology players are aiming to transform India into a hub for their device manufacturing operations. Samsung, for instance, established the world’s largest smartphone factory in India five years ago, while Apple’s manufacturing partner, Foxconn, is investing $600 million in infrastructure to produce iPhones and semiconductor chips within the country.

Encouraged by New Delhi’s financial incentives and favorable policies, global companies are increasingly choosing India as an alternative manufacturing base, diversifying from their reliance on China. This strategic shift, often referred to as “China + 1,” reflects the evolving dynamics of the global tech manufacturing ecosystem.