Technology company Nothing has announced that it plans to establish its CMF brand as an independent subsidiary as a way to offer gadgets at more affordable prices.
CMF's move to become an independent company will see India become its manufacturing headquarters and research and development location.
In a TechCrunch report, Wednesday (24/9), the CMF brand introduced Nothing in 2023 by releasing earbuds and smartwatches.
Since then, the brand has continued to grow with a wider selection of gadgets , including smartphones.
Furthermore, Nothing announced that they will partner with an Indian design manufacturing company called Optiemus to form a joint venture in the manufacturing sector.
Although Nothing did not reveal CMF's ownership structure, they stated that they would invest more than US$100 million (around Rp1.6 trillion) initially over the next three years with an estimated 1,800 jobs.
Nothing made this announcement after the company recently secured US$200 million in funding led by venture capital firm Tiger Global.
Nothing also did not explain how much of its latest funding would be used to establish CMF as an independent company.
Also read: Nothing Ear (3) debuts with new "Super Mic" feature
The decision by Carl Pei's company to make India its operational hub for CMF feels right for several reasons. First, CMF smartphones are currently priced under US$200 (around Rp. 3.3 million), and this category is a top-selling product in India.
IDC's latest report notes that 32 percent of mobile phones circulating in India in the second quarter of 2025 will be in the US$100-200 price range.
Furthermore, India is Nothing's key market, with a smartphone market share of over two percent. IDC even stated that Nothing was the fastest-growing brand in India in the 2025 quarter, with product shipments growing by 85 percent year-over-year.
"India will play a key role in shaping the future of the global smartphone industry. CMF has been well-received by the market since its launch two years ago. With our comprehensive capabilities, we are uniquely positioned to become India's first global smartphone brand," said Nothing CEO Carl Pei.
