Nothing CEO Carl Pei believes India is approaching a turning point in consumer technology: After becoming a major manufacturing base for smartphones, the country now has an opportunity to build the engineering capabilities and global brands behind the products. His comments come at a significant moment, with the government stepping up its push for domestic electronics value addition and Indian technology companies, startups and global tech leaders increasingly focusing on building capabilities in the country.
There is a commercial reason behind Pei’s India optimism. Nothing announced in September 2025 that its CMF sub-brand would become an independent subsidiary, with India serving as its base for operations, R&D and manufacturing. Nothing and Indian electronics manufacturer Optiemus also announced a joint venture involving an investment of more than $100 million over three years and plans to create more than 1,800 jobs.
Importantly, the scheme is not limited to assembly. The Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme is also designed to develop deeper parts of the supply chain, covering areas such as camera-module and display-module sub-assemblies, printed circuit boards, passive components and other electronics components.
The government says it will support Indian mobile brands, encourage Indian patents and promote design and R&D.
India’s Potential in AI Development
Huang emphasized the strength of India’s established IT industry as a solid base for developing a new technology platform. He expressed enthusiasm for the increasing use of AI by Indian companies and startups, which could foster a local AI economy. Additionally, he urged governments to accelerate their efforts, noting that ‘AI is moving fast.’
India’s advantages include a vast market, robust manufacturing capabilities, and a wealth of engineering talent. However, according to Pei, the country lacks a significant Indian-origin global consumer technology brand that can drive supply chain innovation.
