Nothing Spins Off CMF into India‑Headquartered Subsidiary
Tech company Nothing is spinning off its budget CMF brand into an independent subsidiary headquartered in India for manufacturing and R&D, in partnership with Indian ODM Optiemus. The move is expected to create over 1,800 jobs and focuses on affordable devices (primarily under $200).
Key points
- Headquarters for manufacturing & R&D: India
- Partner: Optiemus (Indian ODM / telecom partner)
- Jobs: 1,800+ projected
- Product focus: Budget-friendly devices (earbuds, smartwatch, smartphones) priced largely under $200
- Funding context: Nothing recently raised $200M in a funding round; a separate ~$100M JV/investment has been reported for the CMF spin-off
Background
CMF by Nothing launched in 2023 with earbuds and a smartwatch, and has since expanded into smartphones. India represents a strong market for Nothing — the brand has shown rapid shipment growth in the region and the sub-$200 segment is dominant in the country.
Quote
“India will play a key role in shaping the future of the global smartphone industry. CMF has been well-received by the market since we launched it two years ago. With our end-to-end capabilities, we are uniquely positioned to now build it into India’s first truly global smartphone brand.” — Carl Pei, CEO of Nothing
Sources
- TechCrunch — Nothing to spin off CMF
- Outlook Business — CMF JV with Optiemus
- Dataconomy — CMF spin-off, investment details
Shop / Further reading
Search for CMF products on Amazon US (affiliate links):
What do you think — will an India‑based CMF change the affordable smartphone landscape? Share your thoughts below.