May 23 (Reuters) - Alphabet's Google is

planning to make its Pixel smartphone in India's southern state

of Tamil Nadu and has tied up with Taiwan's Foxconn,

two sources with direct knowledge said on Thursday.

"It will be making the latest models of its smartphones in

the state... at the existing Foxconn facility (in Tamil Nadu),"

one of the sources said on condition of anonymity as they are

not authorized to talk to the media.

Foxconn already assembles Apple's ( AAPL ) iPhones at a

facility near Chennai in Tamil Nadu.

Big global manufacturers are looking to diversify their

supply chain beyond China amid geopolitical tensions between

Beijing and Washington and are considering India as an option.

"The investment in Tamil Nadu is separate from the reported

tie-up between Dixon and Google (to make smartphones

in India)," the source said, adding the decision came about

after the state's officials met with Google executives recently.

News website Moneycontrol first reported on Google's plans.

Google, Foxconn and the Tamil Nadu government did not

immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

(Reporting by Praveen Paramasivam; Editing by Anil D'Silva)