London-based consumer technology company Nothing has announced that its design-focused sub-brand CMF will now operate as an independent subsidiary, with India serving as its global headquarters for operations, R&D, and manufacturing. “This move highlights India’s rising importance as a hub for next-generation consumer technology brands.” The strategic shift underscores Nothing’s commitment to leveraging India’s growing technology ecosystem to scale globally.
In a significant step, Nothing has partnered with Indian electronics giant Optiemus Electronics Limited Infracom to establish a joint venture aimed at positioning India as a global production and export base for Nothing and CMF products. The partnership entails an investment of over $100 million and is projected to create more than 1,800 jobs over the next three years, reinforcing India’s status as a manufacturing hub for next-generation consumer electronics.
Carl Pei, CEO of Nothing, emphasized India’s central role in the company’s global ambitions: “India will play a key role in shaping the future of the global smartphone industry. With our end-to-end capabilities, we are uniquely positioned to now build CMF into India’s first truly global smartphone brand. Our joint venture with Optiemus is a key milestone toward making that vision a reality.” Echoing this sentiment, Optiemus Executive Chairman Ashok Gupta highlighted the significance for India’s electronics ecosystem: “Global brands choosing India to build is a testament to the strength of the Indian ecosystem and the vision of Make In India and Atmanirbhar Bharat.”
Industry experts view the move as strategically sound. Navkendar Singh, associate vice president at IDC, noted that CMF’s focus on budget phones and wearables allows Nothing to maintain a differentiated approach, competing effectively with established players like Xiaomi, Realme, Vivo, Motorola, boAt, and Noise, while preserving its mid-premium brand positioning.
The announcement follows several initiatives designed to strengthen CMF’s global operations from India, including relocating the sub-brand’s marketing function to the country and appointing Himanshu Tandon as VP of CMF Business. Earlier this year, Nothing completed a $200 million Series C funding round at a $1.3 billion valuation, led by Tiger Global and supported by investors such as Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, highlighting the brand’s ambitious growth trajectory.
By spinning off CMF and centering its operations in India, Nothing is strategically positioning the country as a global innovation, manufacturing, and R&D hub, while reinforcing its commitment to scaling its footprint in the competitive global smartphone and consumer electronics market.
