Tech giant Google is in touch with Indian suppliers to partially move production of its Pixel smartphone to India, multiple news outlets reported on Tuesday.
The Silicon Valley firm reportedly contacted officials from Lava International Ltd. and Dixon Technologies India Ltd. as well as Foxconn Technology Group’s Indian unit Bharat FIH.
New Delhi has been attracting many technology companies of late, with Samsung and Apple already announcing plans to start manufacturing units in India.
Last year, Sunder Pichai, the chief executive officer of Google's parent company Alphabet Inc. visited India and met with many senior officials and ministers, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It was reported the meetings also stressed the possibility of “made in India,” Google Pixel phones.
Meanwhile, Modi has been pitching India as an alternative manufacturing hub.
Presently in the US, Modi's delegation is expected to hold talks on topics including the removal of tech trade barriers between the two countries.
Overall, Google phones have not performed well in India. If Google chooses to produce phones in the country, it could help boost sales as Google would avoid the heavy import duty levied by the Indian government on imported smartphones.