Google is making it known it is seizing back control over the Nexus smartphone program. Apparently, the aim is to establish a tight control over the full extent of the smartphone development process, right from the conceptual stage to the actual execution. This would be akin to what Apple does with its iPhone.
What this could boil down to is that Google will be calling all the shots with the Nexus devices with manufacturing partners reduced to just being component suppliers. This would be much like the manner in which Google is implementing its Pixel C project that includes components sourced from various suppliers. In the past, Google has partnered with HTC, Samsung, Motorola, Huawei and LG to manufactur