Indian audio brand boAt has announced its first fully indigenous high-volume chip, designed in collaboration with Bengaluru-based semiconductor startup HrdWyr. The chip, named Indus 1011, is tailored for true wireless stereo (TWS) charging cases and will be assembled and packaged by Tata Electronics in India.
The company confirmed that prototypes will be ready by the end of 2025, with integration into boAt’s premium Nirvana range by mid-2026. By 2026, nearly a quarter of boAt’s product portfolio is expected to run on this indigenous chip.
Indigenous Audio Chip
According to boAt’s co-founders Aman Gupta and Sameer Mehta, this marks the first locally sourced chip for this product category. The Indus 1011 combines a microcontroller unit (MCU) with a power management IC, offering up to 30 percent better charging efficiency.
The long-term roadmap includes integrating artificial intelligence features to optimise battery life further. Beyond efficiency gains, the initiative helps boAt achieve greater control over its supply chain, reduce import dependency, and lower production costs as volumes increase.
India’s Chip Development Project
This effort is part of India’s larger ambition to build an independent semiconductor ecosystem. By designing and assembling chips locally, companies like boAt and HrdWyr are strengthening the country’s electronics manufacturing backbone.
The project also aligns with government initiatives aimed at boosting semiconductor production and reducing reliance on foreign suppliers. Currently, around 80 percent of boAt’s 30 million annual units are already made in India, with plans to increase this figure to 90–95 percent in the coming years.
Efforts and Supply Chain
India’s push for local chip development comes at a time when the global supply of rare earth minerals, crucial for chip manufacturing, faces disruptions. Recent concerns about China’s dominance in the rare earth supply chain have highlighted the need for India to secure alternative sourcing and domestic reserves.
By partnering with startups like HrdWyr and manufacturing giants such as Tata Electronics, boAt is contributing to India’s broader self-reliance mission in technology. Despite a post-pandemic slowdown in the audio market, boAt continues to hold a 30–33 percent share of India’s audio segment, showing how innovation can fuel growth in competitive markets.
