London-headquartered consumer technology company Nothing has announced a joint venture with Indian electronics manufacturer Optiemus Infracom to expand smartphone manufacturing in India.
The partnership will see over $100 million in fresh investment and the creation of more than 1,800 jobs over the next three years, reinforcing India’s status as the world’s second-largest mobile phone manufacturer.
Key Takeaways
Nothing–Optiemus Joint Venture: $100 million investment and 1,800+ jobs.
CMF Brand Expansion: India to lead global R&D and manufacturing.
Make in India Boost: Strengthens India’s electronics manufacturing ecosystem.
Rapid Market Growth: Fastest-growing smartphone brand in India.
India to Become Global Base for CMF by Nothing
As part of this expansion, CMF, Nothing’s affordable and design-focused brand, will operate as an independent subsidiary with India as its global base for research, development, and manufacturing. CMF has been well-received in the Indian market, with flagship products like the CMF Phone 2 Pro priced at an accessible ₹15,999 (approx. $180), significantly lower than the Nothing Phone (3) at ₹79,999.
“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 build CMF into India’s first truly global smartphone brand,” CEO and co-founder Carl Pei said.
Strengthening India’s Electronics Manufacturing Ecosystem
Optiemus Infracom, based in Noida, is a leading electronics manufacturer known for supporting international smartphone brands such as OnePlus and Realme. Executive Chairman Ashok Gupta highlighted that the partnership aligns with India’s “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India) initiatives.
This joint venture underscores India’s rise as a global manufacturing and export hub for next-generation consumer technology, with Nothing already investing over $200 million in the country to date.
Rapid Growth and Global Backing
Founded in 2020 by Carl Pei, Nothing launched its first smartphone in 2022 and has quickly become one of India’s fastest-growing smartphone brands, with shipments more than doubling year-over-year in the second quarter of 2025.
Backed by Google Ventures, Tiger Global, and artist The Weeknd, Nothing recently completed a $200 million Series C funding round at a $1.3 billion valuation, further fueling its ambitious expansion strategy.
TelecomLead.com News Desk
