Google Pixel sales have been banned in Indonesia

If you purchased a Google Pixel phone or plan on buying one in Indonesia, you’re likely out of luck. The country has banned the sale of Pixel phones in the region. This ban comes as part of the country’s push for local manufacturing, requiring that at least 40% of components in certain smartphones sold in Indonesia be made domestically, as reported by Reuters.

A spokesperson for Indonesia’s industry ministry, Febri Hendri Antoni Arief, explained the decision, saying, “We are pushing these rules so that there’s fairness for all investors in Indonesia. Google’s products have not adhered to the scheme we set, so they can’t be sold here.”

While Pixel phones have gained popularity globally, they’re not officially sold in Indonesia. Instead, many Indonesians have bought these devices overseas or through unofficial channels. Arief noted that consumers can still buy Google Pixel phones outside the country if they pay the required import taxes. However, Indonesia may consider deactivating phones that are brought in through unofficial means.

This isn’t the first time Indonesia has enforced its local manufacturing rules on major tech companies. The country recently blocked Apple’s iPhone 16 for the same reason, citing similar issues with compliance. These policies aim to promote local partnerships and component sourcing, a strategy some companies have already adopted to stay in the market.

That said, since Google doesn’t really sell Pixel phones officially in the country, it’ll likely not even consider adhering to the rules any time soon. In fact, neither Google nor Apple holds a major market share in Indonesia. According to IDC, Chinese smartphone brand OPPO and South Korean giant Samsung are the leaders in the region.

Not everyone supports the approach. Bhima Yudhistira, an analyst from the Center of Economic and Law Studies, has described Indonesia’s local manufacturing requirement as a form of “pseudo” protectionism. He believes this policy could turn off potential investors and hurt consumer choice. “This creates a negative sentiment for investors looking to enter Indonesia,” Yudhistira commented.

This concern does have validity. What if multiple countries set up similar rules? It’ll be impossible for companies to cater to each country’s demands while also ensuring that the business is profitable. Either way, for now, this rule might just be an annoying thorn in Google’s side.