In a significant development aligned with India’s Make in India initiative, technology giants HP and Google have collaborated to manufacture budget-friendly Chromebook laptops within India. This strategic partnership aims to target the affordable notebook market, specifically catering to students, educational institutions, and government procurement needs.
According to reports from The Times of India, the Chromebook devices are expected to be priced at approximately Rs 20,000, with the potential for even lower rates in bulk purchases. Production will take place at the Flex facility near Chennai, where HP has been manufacturing laptops and desktops since August 2020. Manufacturing is scheduled to commence on October 2, with a primary focus on meeting the demand for affordable PCs, particularly in the education sector. This marks the first time that Google Chromebooks will be produced in India.
Vickram Bedi, Senior Director (Personal Systems) at HP India, expressed HP’s commitment to advancing digital equity and supporting digital education initiatives in India. By producing Chromebook laptops locally, Indian students will have increased access to cost-effective personal computers. Bedi also highlighted HP’s dedication to the Make in India program.
Google sees this collaboration as an opportunity to further integrate itself into the Indian education system with budget-friendly notebooks. Bani Dhawan, Head of Education (South Asia) at Google, emphasized their ongoing efforts to assist the local education ecosystem in transitioning to digital-first learning experiences through various products and teacher programs. The local production of Chromebooks in partnership with HP represents a significant milestone in Google’s mission to support the digital transformation of education in India.
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Dhawan expressed hope that this collaboration would accelerate the adoption of technology in more schools, ensuring that every student and educator has access to the necessary tools and skills to unlock their full potential. This joint venture between HP and Google not only supports India’s Make in India initiative but also paves the way for more affordable and accessible digital education solutions for students and institutions across the country.
