Tamil Nadu Attracts Tech Giants: Google to Establish Drone Manufacturing Unit in Chennai

Tamil Nadu is attracting tech giants to start manufacturing in its city. Recently, after Apple, Google also wanted to start a manufacturing unit based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. This is the work of making drones.

Google’s parent Alphabet is in talks with the government to set up a manufacturing unit in Sriperumbudur. Alphabet is planning to set up a manufacturing unit under its subsidiary.

Google is considering partnering with  Foxconn which assembles Apple iPhones in Chennai. Foxconn is a Taiwan-based contract manufacturer company.

Though what will the amount and costs of the project are still unknown. We are waiting for the official announcement from the government of Tamil Nadu.

T R B Rajaa the industries minister of the state made a tweet on Thursday a. He wrote in his tweet the Tamil Nadu will continue to lead in electronic industry. This industry will provide more jobs as it is doing from last few years.

According to TOI a source also told that- It’s not just Pixel smartphones and drones, Google may have more products. The company is convinced of the value support the state can offer.

Let us remind you from last year 2023 October Google announced that they will start manufacturing Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 pro phones in India. Recently this announcement grabbed headlines again when Dixon Technologies’ partnership with Google to manufacture Pixel in India was made public.

Many sources are saying that maybe Google will produce smartphones through Dixon as well as Foxconn.

Google’s decision comes shortly after a state delegation, including Industries Minister Rajaa and Foxconn executives, visited the US and met with senior Google executives in Mountain View, California. Google has shown interest in setting up a plant near Chennai. A group of Google executives is expected to meet with Chief Minister M K Stalin soon to finalize the manufacturing plans, according to sources.

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Right now, Foxconn and Pegatron are putting together over 80% of Apple’s $14 billion worth of iPhones in Tamil Nadu. With Tata’s electronics operations and a strong component ecosystem, Tamil Nadu is leading the way in mobile phone manufacturing in India.

Currently, Google’s Pixel phones have a very small share of the Indian smartphone market. Samsung is the top player with a 25% share from January to March, followed by Apple with 19% and Vivo with 18%, according to Counterpoint research. Globally, Pixel had less than a 5% market share in 2023. Google is hoping to boost its market presence by introducing exciting on-device AI features, starting with Pixel and Galaxy smartphones.