Google Commences Pixel 8 Manufacturing in India
Google has officially begun the production of the Google Pixel 8 in India, just ahead of the highly anticipated Pixel 9 series launch. The company made the announcement via social media on Monday, marking a significant step in its strategy to localize manufacturing. The production, limited to the base model of the Pixel 8 series, is being carried out in partnership with local electronic manufacturing services (EMS) company Dixon Technologies, under the supervision of Google’s global manufacturing arm, Compal. The initial capacity of the plant is reported to be around 100,000 units per month, with a substantial portion destined for export.
Google Pixel 8 Made in India: What We Know
The Google Pixel 8was first launched globally in October 2023, with India being one of the key markets. During the Google for India event in the same month, Rick Osterloh, Senior Vice President of Devices and Services at Google, confirmed that the company would begin assembling the Pixel 8 in India by 2024. This promise has now come to fruition, with the first batch of locally assembled Pixel 8 handsets already rolling off the production line. However, it’s important to note that only the base Pixel 8 model is currently being produced in India, while the Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 8a remain imported.
Pricing and Availability: Impact of Local Production
The local production of the Google Pixel 8 has raised questions about its impact on the device’s pricing in India. As of now, the Google Pixel 8 is priced at Rs. 75,999, with two storage variants available: 128GB and 256GB. The smartphone is exclusively sold through Flipkart, Google’s authorized seller in India. However, with the upcoming launch of the Pixel 9 series, Google is expected to expand its retail presence to offline stores like Croma and Reliance Digital, potentially affecting the distribution and pricing strategy of both the 8 and the new Pixel 9 series.