Overview
- Nikkei Asia reported on Tuesday that Google has told suppliers it aims to have no Pixel phones, watches or earbuds made in China starting next year and to complete the move by 2027, and Google has not publicly confirmed the report.
- The plan would concentrate production in Vietnam and India after Vietnam successfully handled high‑end Pixel 11 manufacturing this year, giving company leaders confidence to scale production outside China.
- Google has reportedly asked suppliers to prepare for an 8–10% rise in Pixel shipments this year from about 12 million units in 2025, a target the company sees as key to growing hardware users of its Gemini AI services.
- To blunt sharply higher memory prices, Google is said to be bundling memory orders for smartphones with orders from its cloud business to gain purchasing leverage with suppliers such as Micron, Samsung and SK Hynix.
- The move would follow a broader industry trend of diversifying electronics manufacturing away from China and would likely boost factory work and export activity in Vietnam and India while reducing China’s role in Pixel supply chains.