Google’s first self-branded smartphone, the Pixel, has received warm response from critics since its launch last month. The Pixel smartphone has been manufactured by HTC but as it turns out search giant’s first choice for manufacturing these smartphones was Huawei. Huawei has reportedly confirmed that it denied the manufacturing contract for Pixel due to the lack of co-branding on the product.
Last month, reports suggested that Huawei was initially chosen to manufacture the Pixel but backed out of the deal once Google clarified that the OEM logo would not be placed on the smartphones. As per a report by German publication WinFuture, Huawei’s Vice President of the Consumer Business Group Colin Giles has confirmed that the fallout between the companies regarding Pixel happened over brand name.
According to Giles, Huawei didn’t want to remain just a contract manufacturer for the Pixel and wanted its own brand on smartphones as it wants to make its name better known worldwide. Notably, Huawei has previously manufactured Google’s Nexus 6P smartphone.
It should not come as a surprise move as Richard Yu, chief executive of Huawei’s consumer business group, has previously announced that the company wants to overtake Apple to become the second-largest maker of smartphones after Samsung.
Even though the company has established its brand in Asia, it still hasn’t been able to make a name for itself in developed markets outside Asia. It will be interesting to see if the companies will be able work together in future given the refusal by Huawei.
