Days after banning Apple’s iPhone 16, Indonesia also bans sales of Google’s Pixel phones
In Indonesia, the regulations require that 40 percent of components used in products sold in the country must be locally sourced.
Google’s Pixel phones have been prohibited from being sold in Indonesia due to non-compliance with this rule, according to the Indonesian Industry Ministry spokesperson Febri Hendri Antoni Arief on Oct. 31.
Consumers in Indonesia can still buy the phones from abroad but will need to pay the necessary taxes, Febria mentioned. Additionally, the government may take action against illegally imported Google Pixel phones.
Just a week before, Indonesia had also banned the sale of Apple’s iPhone 16 for failing to renew its certification to sell products with a 40 percent local sourcing requirement.
Indonesian Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita stated that the extension of Apple’s certification is pending until they fulfill their investment commitments.
As per reports, Apple’s current investment in Indonesia falls short of the pledged amount, hindering the entry of new Apple products into the Indonesian market.
Although Apple does not have manufacturing facilities in Indonesia, they have established developer academies in various cities and announced plans to open a new academy in Bali.
According to research by IDC, the top two phone makers in Indonesia in the first quarter of 2024 were OPPO and Samsung.
The Epoch Times reached out to both Google and Apple for comments but did not receive a response before publication.
Catherine Yang and Reuters contributed to this report.
