HMD Global, the licensee of Nokia-branded smartphones, has become the first major smartphone company to manufacture devices in Europe, with its first 5G model made in Hungary (aimed at customers keen on data security) now available for purchase.
“We are delighted to be producing the Nokia XR21, our iconic rugged 5G smartphone, in Europe,” HMD Global co-founder, chairman and CEO Jean-Francois Baril said on Tuesday.
“We are committed to investing in safety, technology and manufacturing processes to make our equipment safer and more durable.”
Before HMD opened its Hungarian factory, there was no large-scale smartphone manufacturing in Europe as large companies such as Apple and Samsung produced their phones in Asia to reduce costs.
HMD says the first European model is designed for enterprise customers, some of whom have requested additional security with their IT security partners.
The company has stored data in the EU, and since 2019, consumer and business data from all of its smartphones are stored and processed on servers in Finland.
The company signed a 10-year exclusive licensing agreement with Nokia, once the world’s largest mobile phone manufacturer, in 2016 to produce Nokia-branded smartphones and tablets.
The company said in March it would start production in the European Union, which has been encouraging companies to establish production bases in key industries such as semiconductors.
The company said that the European version of Nokia XR21 will be priced starting at EUR 649 (nearly Rs. 56,500).
The limited edition of 30 pieces in frosted platinum from the European production line is available on the company’s website for 699 euros, the company said.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
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