Smartphone maker Nothing has promoted its budget sub-brand CMF into an independent subsidiary. India will serve as CMF’s global hub for operations, research, and manufacturing. The company also announced a $100 million joint venture with Indian electronics maker Optiemus Infracom Limited.
The partnership is expected to generate over 1,800 jobs in India over the next three years. Nothing has already invested more than $200 million in India, reflecting its importance in the company’s growth strategy. The move aims to make India a global hub for smartphone production and exports.
CMF, launched in 2023, has gained popularity in India’s budget smartphone and wearables segment. Its phones are priced under $200, which accounted for over 42% of all sales in Q2 2025, according to IDC. Carl Pei, CEO of Nothing, said the joint venture is a major step toward building CMF into a global smartphone brand.
Optiemus will provide engineering and production expertise to the partnership. Ashok Gupta, Executive Chairman of Optiemus, said the collaboration reflects India’s growing technology ecosystem. He added that the venture will produce export-ready devices designed in India, highlighting local talent and innovation to the world.
