Internet major Google will make the Pixel series of smartphones in India, starting with Pixel 8, and plans to roll out the India-made devices in 2024, a senior company official said yesterday.

The tech titan outlined its manufacturing plans at the annual Google for India event that also saw other key announcements for this market while CEO Sundar Pichai in a post on X said that Google is committed to being a trusted partner in the country’s digital growth story.

Google Senior Vice President for Devices and Services Rick Osterloh said the company will partner with international contract manufacturers to make the phones in India, Reuters reported from New Delhi.

“We will start manufacturing Google Pixel series smartphones in India,” Osterloh said at the event in the national capital.

The company acknowledged India being a priority for Pixel smartphones, noting the significant momentum for Pixel in the country over the past several years.

Osterloh said that Union IT and Communications minister Ashwini Vaishnaw supported the company’s plan to make Pixel smartphones in India.

“Earlier, 98 per cent mobile phones that were used in India were imported. Now, 98 per cent mobile phones (used in the country) are made in India. Electronics companies now want to set up their base in India. India has emerged as a trusted value chain partner.

“Google’s announcement to make Pixel smartphones in India is a big achievement of the government’s made in India policy,” Vaishnaw said.

The announcement, Google said, is an early step on their journey toward expanding their device production capacity and helping meet the country’s growing demand for Pixel.

“In recent years, India has established itself as a truly world-class hub for manufacturing, resulting in a thriving environment for businesses to flourish.

“With this initiative, Google joins the Make in India momentum and looks forward to bringing the magic of Pixel smartphones to more people across India,” the tech company said in a release.

Osterloh mentioned the speed and the manner in which India has embraced its consistent smartphone innovations, and said Google continues to receive heartening feedback from partners and the growing TeamPixel family.

In the post on X, Pichai said, “we shared plans at #GoogleforIndia to manufacture Pixel smartphones locally and expect the first devices to roll out in 2024. We’re committed to being a trusted partner in India’s digital growth- appreciate the support for Make In India PMOIndia + MEIT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw”.

“Google is supporting the launch of Axis My India’s one-of-a-kind multilingual super-app called ‘a’, which utilises Google Cloud’s gen AI technology to provide millions of citizens information about government schemes and other solutions and services nationwide,” according to a release.