News in Short

• Nothing is expanding its partnership with India-based Optiemus Group.
• The companies plan to bring CMF’s manufacturing, ownership and R&D under one India-based entity.
• CMF is set to become an independent, majority Indian-owned smartphone brand.
• Nothing will continue to hold a stake in the new CMF entity.

CMF is moving closer to becoming an independent, majority Indian-owned smartphone brand.

Nothing has announced an expanded strategic partnership with the Optiemus Group. The new arrangement aims to bring manufacturing, ownership and research and development for CMF under a single India-based entity.

The move builds on the partnership between Nothing and Optiemus that began in 2025. That agreement helped establish India as a production hub for Nothing and CMF devices.

Now, the relationship is moving beyond manufacturing. The companies want India to play a larger role in the ownership and development of CMF products.

What Is Changing for CMF?

CMF currently operates as a brand under Nothing. That structure is set to change.

Nothing has said CMF will be restructured as an independent smartphone brand. It will soon become a majority Indian-owned firm, with Nothing continuing as a stakeholder.

Optiemus will also become part of the ownership structure through the upcoming Series A investment round for CMF.

This means CMF’s future structure will involve both an Indian partner and Nothing, while the brand moves towards greater independence.

Why Is Optiemus Important?

The expanded partnership gives Optiemus a role beyond smartphone manufacturing.

The companies intend to bring manufacturing, ownership and R&D under the same India-based entity. That creates a more integrated structure for CMF’s operations in the country.

The move also builds on the manufacturing joint venture established by the two companies last year. That partnership was designed to make India a production hub for Nothing and CMF devices.

With the latest development, the relationship is expanding into areas that could influence how CMF products are developed and built.

Carl Pei Wants More R&D in India

Nothing CEO Carl Pei has also linked the move to India’s broader consumer technology ambitions.

Pei has highlighted the need for India to develop an end-to-end research and development ecosystem. In his view, such an ecosystem could help the country build homegrown consumer technology brands with a global presence.

That distinction is important because manufacturing and product development are not the same thing.

A larger R&D presence could allow companies to work on product design, engineering and development closer to the market where their products are made and sold.

The source does not specify which CMF products or R&D functions will be developed in India under the new structure. Therefore, the exact scope of this R&D expansion remains unclear.

India Is Already a Major Smartphone Manufacturing Hub

The CMF move comes as India continues to expand its smartphone manufacturing capabilities.

According to the source, Carl Pei highlighted that 99 percent of smartphones sold in India are now manufactured domestically. He also pointed to India becoming the world’s second-largest smartphone maker.

The government has also pushed to expand domestic electronics manufacturing.

Earlier this year, the Union Cabinet approved the Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme, or MPSE, with a budgetary outlay of Rs 62,500 crore. The scheme aims to support domestic manufacturing and Indian brands.

Against this backdrop, CMF’s proposed ownership structure gives the India manufacturing story another dimension.

What Does This Mean for Nothing?

Nothing is not completely exiting CMF.

The company will continue to hold a stake in the new entity even after CMF becomes independent. Optiemus will also have a stake following the Series A round.

For Nothing, the arrangement allows CMF to move towards an independent structure while maintaining a connection with its parent company.

For CMF, meanwhile, the move could give the brand greater independence and a stronger India-based foundation.

CMF’s Next Chapter Could Be More India-Focused

CMF began as Nothing’s more accessible consumer technology brand. It has since expanded its product portfolio across smartphones and other devices.

The latest announcement could mark a new phase for the brand.

The proposed structure puts manufacturing, ownership and R&D under an India-based entity. It also gives an Indian company a direct role in the brand’s ownership.

However, the immediate impact on CMF’s products, pricing or global strategy is not yet clear.

What is clear is that India is becoming more central to CMF’s business structure, moving from being primarily a manufacturing base towards a larger role in ownership and product development.