Google Plans to End Pixel Production in China by 2027
US technology giant Google is planning to completely stop manufacturing all Pixel-branded products in China from 2027, according to a report by international news outlet Nikkei Asia.
The company has already informed its suppliers that, after withdrawing production from China, its smartphones, smartwatches and wireless earbuds will primarily be manufactured in Vietnam and India.
Vietnam’s Success and Global Manufacturing Shift
Earlier this year, reports indicated that Google had already begun producing its new Pixel 11 series smartphones in Vietnam.
The company has successfully completed the complex process of building manufacturing infrastructure, conducting testing and establishing quality control systems necessary for producing flagship smartphones in a new country.
Having achieved success in manufacturing advanced devices such as smartphones in Vietnam, Google now finds it easier to expand production there to accessories such as earbuds and smartwatches.
Technology analysts note that Google's transition away from China is easier than that of US rival Apple. One major reason is that Google does not officially sell Pixel phones in China, and its global customer base is significantly smaller than Apple's.
In addition, Google can benefit from the extensive supply-chain ecosystem already built in Vietnam by competitor Samsung.
Production Targets and AI Strategy
Google has informed suppliers that it aims to increase Pixel phone shipments by 8 to 10 percent in 2026, compared with the 12 million units produced in 2025.
A key objective behind expanding Pixel sales is to bring its in-house artificial intelligence service, Gemini, to a larger number of users.
Meanwhile, to cope with rising global memory-chip prices, Google has adopted a strategic approach by combining purchase orders for memory chips used in smartphones with those used in its cloud-computing business. This allows the company to negotiate more efficiently and better control production costs.
//DBTech/BMT/OR//
