HP joins hands with Google to manufacture Chromebooks in India

HP, a prominent leader in the personal computer market, has made an exciting announcement regarding a partnership with Google to manufacture Chromebooks in India. Chromebooks are known for their affordability, running on Google's Chromebook OS and featuring built-in accessibility and security features. Currently, Chromebooks represent only a low-single-digit share of HP's overall product portfolio in India. However, this new initiative to manufacture Chromebooks locally is a strategic move to meet the increasing demand for affordable PCs in India, with a particular focus on the education sector.

The context in India is that the country is prioritizing digital education, and many government schools are investing in computing hardware, including laptops, desktops, and tablets. Local manufacturing of Chromebooks, which fall within the price range of Rs 20,000–30,000, is expected to position HP to secure orders from government schools. Additionally, HP aims to compete with the 9-inch tablet market by offering 11-inch Chromebooks, which are more versatile for educational purposes.

Furthermore, since Chromebooks are recognized for their cost-effectiveness, even with local manufacturing, their pricing is expected to remain competitive. The manufacturing of these devices will take place at the Flex Facility near Chennai, where HP has been producing various laptops and desktops since August 2020. Vickram Bedi, Senior Director–Personal Systems, HP India, emphasized HP's commitment to advancing digital equity and supporting the Indian government's "Make in India" initiative.

Google's Chromebook is already popular in the global education sector, and it is gaining traction in India as well. Bani Dhawan, Head of Education–South Asia, Google, highlighted their close collaboration with the local education ecosystem to facilitate the transition to digital-first learning experiences.

The HP-Google partnership aims to further support the digital education ecosystem in India, with the goal of providing affordable, safe, and high-quality computing devices to education authorities, schools, and institutions. Chromebooks have a strong presence in K-12 education, benefitting over 50 million students and teachers worldwide.

It's worth noting that HP has significantly expanded its manufacturing operations in India since 2020. In December 2021, they began manufacturing a wide range of laptops, including HP EliteBooks, HP ProBooks, and HP G8 series notebooks, in India. HP has also broadened its portfolio of locally manufactured commercial desktops, offering various models to cater to a wide range of customer segments. This new development reaffirms HP's commitment to the Indian government's "Make in India" initiative, and it follows HP's application for the Production Linked Incentive 2.0 for IT hardware.

This partnership represents an important step in the development of the digital education landscape in India, offering students and educators greater access to the tools and skills needed for their personal growth and potential.