Alphabet Expands Google Pixel Production in India, Eyes Export Opportunities

In a significant industry development, Alphabet is scaling up its Google Pixel smartphone production in India, with plans to manufacture the flagship Pixel 10 Series locally and initiate exports. The move underscores the tech giant’s strategy to derisk manufacturing from tariff uncertainties under US president Donald Trump’s regime, according to senior industry executives.

Alphabet is holding advanced talks with its existing Indian vendors Foxconn and Dixon Technologies, alongside potential new partners such as Micromax-owned Bhagwati Products, to expand assembly operations. These vendors currently assemble the Pixel 9a model, but the company is expected to phase out older models as the Pixel 10 Series takes center stage.

"The initial launch lot of Pixel 10 Series has been imported from Taiwan. However, company officials have had meetings with their production partners in India and also newer potential partners to expand production, including the new model and exports," said an executive aware of the plans. The Pixel 10 Series officially went on sale in late August.

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At its peak, Indian vendors produced 70,000–80,000 Pixel handsets monthly, although older models like Pixel 9 continue to be imported from Taiwan due to limited local manufacturing.

A second executive highlighted the company’s global ambitions: "While they have not yet indicated which markets will be catered to from India, if Apple is exporting to the US from India in such a big way, it is quite possible some of Alphabet's Pixel exports will be for the US as well," he said.

Alphabet is also aggressively expanding its retail footprint in India, appointing 18 distributors and partnering with Reliance Digital, Croma, Sangeetha Mobiles, Poorvika, and over 2,000 multi-brand outlets. Local production, introduced a year ago, has reduced duty costs. India levies 16.5% import duties, helping Pixels compete with Apple’s iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy models.