Alphabet Inc’s Google is set to manufacture its Chromebook laptops in India as part of its expansion plans in the country. Google has partnered with HP Inc to produce Chromebooks in India, according to Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai on X, formerly known as Twitter. This move will help Google increase its supply in India and compete more effectively with companies like Dell Technologies Inc. and Asustek Computer Inc., offering Windows-based computers. It is also in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s US$2 billion incentive plan to encourage tech giants to make India their manufacturing base.
Driven by rising tensions between the US and China, India is expanding its electronics manufacturing sector to attract companies looking to diversify their production away from China. This move to local manufacturing will enable Google to maintain a consistent supply of Chromebooks in India while avoiding any potential import curbs. Chromebooks are typically priced at the lower end of the market and have thin profit margins, making them particularly sensitive to tariff measures.
New Delhi has loosened its restrictions on imports of laptops, tablets, and other IT hardware, providing manufacturers with more time to prepare for potential curbs. Bloomberg has previously reported on this development. The Flex Ltd facility near Chennai, in southern India, will be utilized for the production of Chromebooks. HP has been manufacturing laptops and desktops at this facility since 2020. The production of Chromebooks is scheduled to commence on October 2, with a primary focus on the education sector, as stated by HP in a press release.
Credit: The Star : Tech Feed
