India smartphone shipments recovered in Q3 2020, posting 8% growth to a record-high 50 million units shipped in the quarter. Almost all vendors across the country have shown positive shipment growth despite strict lockdown measures and global economic instability.
However, by studying the market trends, one can easily observe that the best mobiles under 15000 INR are all sold by foreign manufacturers. Undoubtedly, the Indian smartphone is dominated by foreign players, with brands like Redmi, OPPO, OnePlus, vivo, Apple, and Samsung being the most preferred choices.
But in the wake of the ‘Make in India’ movement and international trade disputes, individuals are left wondering if a made in India mobile is even possible in the near future.
Made-in-India mobiles phones: Possibilities and challenges
It was only in 2015 that Micromax, an Indian smartphone brand, trumped over fierce competitions like Samsung in terms of units sold. However, Indian smartphone manufacturers faced several challenges that have left them lagging behind the competition. Some of these include the following:
- Lack of spare parts
The biggest hurdle to Indian manufactured smartphone is the lack of semi-conductor wafer fabrication units. As of the previous year, India only had one FAB unit operated by ISRO. A lack of infrastructure severely hinders the local production of spare parts such as chipsets and SOCs, displays, etc.
- Lack of R&D parks
According to several industry experts, the country severely lacks core R&D, product development and design front. Unless the government focuses on creating dedicated R&D parks for local manufacturers, R&D dependency is likely to remain overseas in markets such as China, Korea, and Taiwan.
- Growing competition from foreign manufacturers
As one can observe from market trends, the best mobiles under 15000 INRare from foreign manufacturers. These companies used aggressive pricing to trump their Indian competition. Further, easier availability via partner stores in the Bajaj Finserv EMI Network also boosted their sales.
Will the ‘Make in India’ campaign help?
For now, the Make in India campaign shows positive signs that an entirely made in India smartphone may be on the way. As is the case with other industries, assembly plants soon become manufacturing hubs. Three case studies that support this include-
- In 2018, Samsung opened its largest factory in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, which means increased domestic production.
- Foxconn, the iPhone manufacturer, recently built plants in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
- Even competitors like BBK Electronics and Xiaomi have built their production plants across several regions in the country.
Unlike the case of Micromax, where a lack of domestic manufacturing infrastructure caused the downfall of a company, more local production and assembly plants can be a promising start for Indian manufacturers.
When an India manufactured smartphone is launched, individuals can purchase premium-range models with the most advanced features at an affordable price tag. However, for costlier units, they can use a Bajaj EMI Card apply online option where after applying for the Bajaj Finserv Card they can convert the price into easy to pay monthly instalments.
The NBFC also extends pre-approved offers to expedite the entire loan application process. These offers stand valid for other loan products like personal loans. You can check your pre-approved offer by providing a few essential details like name and contact information.
While 100% made in India smartphones pose an immense challenge, the growth of manufacturing plants and youth’s increasing affinity towards domestic products promises a hopeful future. If all the hurdles mentioned above are successfully resolved, soon at least one of the best mobiles under Rs.15000 will be a fully made in India unit.
