Motorola Mobility CEO Dennis Woodside has announced that some versions of the company’s forthcoming flagship smartphone - the Moto X - will be assembled in the USA, although components will be sourced worldwide. The new device is being described as the first smartphone that’s ever been assembled in the United States.
A former Nokia building in Texas will be used for the project. All Moto X smartphones sold in the USA will be assembled at the Texas site, although versions sold outside the USA may be made elsewhere in the world.
In a news release, Motorola said “There are several business advantages to having our Illinois and California-based designers and engineers much closer to our factory. For instance, we’ll be able to iterate on design much faster, create a leaner supply chain, respond much more quickly to purchasing trends and demands, and deliver devices to people here much more quickly. And as a part of Google we’re being encouraged to take big bets on things that make a difference.”
The new device is expected to be available this summer.