In a historic milestone for the smartphone industry, HMD Global, the licensee of Nokia-branded smartphones, has become the first major smartphone company to manufacture devices in Europe.
Their inaugural 5G model, the Nokia XR21, designed for enhanced data security, is now available for purchase, signaling a new era of smartphone manufacturing on the European continent.
HMD Global’s co-founder, chairman, and CEO, Jean-Francois Baril, expressed excitement about this groundbreaking development, stating, “We are manufacturing the Nokia XR21, our signature rugged 5G smartphone, in Europe. We are dedicated to investing in security, technology, and manufacturing processes that make our devices more secure and longer lasting.”
Prior to HMD’s operations in Hungary, Europe had no large-scale smartphone manufacturing, as major companies like Apple and Samsung predominantly produce their phones in Asia to optimize costs, Reuters news report said.
The Nokia XR21 European edition, the inaugural European-manufactured model, is tailored for enterprise customers who prioritize enhanced data security in collaboration with their IT security partners. The company has been storing data in the European Union since 2019, with consumer and corporate data from all its smartphones held and processed on servers in Finland.
HMD Global inked an exclusive 10-year licensing agreement with Nokia in 2016, enabling them to produce Nokia-branded smartphones and tablets. In line with European Union encouragement for companies to establish production in vital sectors such as semiconductors, HMD announced its plans to commence European manufacturing earlier this year.
The Nokia XR21 European edition is priced starting at 649 euros or 549 pounds. Additionally, a limited edition of 30 units produced in Europe, featuring a frosted platinum design, will be available for purchase from the company’s website at a premium price of 699 euros or 599 pounds.
This strategic move by HMD Global not only signifies a shift in the smartphone manufacturing landscape but also underscores the company’s commitment to data security and technological advancement, placing Europe on the map as a notable hub for smartphone production.
