- Google plans to develop and manufacture high-end Pixel smartphones in Vietnam to diversify supply chains.
- New product introduction processes for Pixel, Pro, and Fold shift to Vietnam; Pixel A remains China-based.
- Move strengthens Vietnam’s role in global electronics amid geopolitical risks; Google yet to comment.
Google is also planning to increase the number of countries where it manufactures its smartphones, as the company plans to start developing and manufacturing high-end smartphones in Vietnam later this year, as reported by Nikkei Asia on January 13.
This is also part of the efforts undertaken by Google to ensure that the countries it sources its electronics from are diverse and do not include countries like China, where it manufactures its electronics products.
According to the news, Google will open new product introduction (NPI) processes in Vietnam for its high-end Pixel line of smartphones, which will include models like Pixel, Pixel Pro, and Pixel Fold.
Nevertheless, work on Pixel A will still be conducted in China at least at this point in time. The NPI is an important phase of the new product introduction of any electronic item before mass production starts.
Google already has an extensive supply chain in Vietnam, and it assembles several of its products there, including Pixel smartphones. It is also believed to be carrying out verification operations in the country in some capacity.
Also read: Intel Urged to Boost Chip Packaging, Testing Ops in Vietnam
Therefore, when the news of the possible expansion to Vietnam came out, Nikkei Asia suggested that assembly of brand-new smartphones in the country would be possible.
Vietnam has also shown itself to be a critical player in the global technology sector, providing a possible haven from the effects of geopolitical tensions. Google’s move would also increase the significance of the country in the global electronics chain.
Reuters reported that it was not in a position to confirm the news, and it appears that Google has not commented on the news yet, since it was asked for comment by the news agency.
If that happens, it will be a major milestone in Google’s hardware plans, which not only reflects the increasing importance of Vietnam in premium electronics assembly but also Google’s endeavor to create an ever more robust and geographically diverse supply chain.