Homegrown Madhav Sheth-led smartphone brand Ai+ has partnered with Optiemus Electronics Limited (OEL) to boost domestic device manufacturing in India, with the two companies jointly committing an investment of Rs 125 crore over the next five years. The collaboration is expected to create around 1,200 direct and indirect jobs while expanding India's electronics manufacturing ecosystem under the government's Make in India initiative.
Ai+ and Optiemus partnership details
Under the agreement, Optiemus Infracom subsidiary, OEL, will manufacture about 3 million Ai+ devices annually. The initial focus will be on Ai+ phones, but production will gradually expand to include tablets, IoT products and wearable devices like the newly launched Ai+ NovaWatch and NovaPods lineup.
Manufacturing will take place at Optiemus Electronics' facility in Noida, with production ramp-up targeted to begin in April 2026. The partnership will provide Ai+ with a scalable India-based production backbone for its broader device portfolio.
According to the companies, the investment will support India's growing electronics ecosystem by generating employment across manufacturing, operations and supporting functions. The move also reflects the rising push for locally manufactured devices as India continues to expand its position as a major global smartphone manufacturing hub.
In a market where most smart devices still come from Chinese and other global brands, there is clear headroom for an Indian brand that treats both quality and sovereignty as non-negotiable. This manufacturing agreement with OEL is a significant step in that direction. OEL brings proven EMS capability in India. Ai+ Smartphone brings an India-authored software stack and a roadmap spanning phones, tablets, AIoT, and wearables. Together, we are committing capital, creating jobs, and building under the Government of India’s Make in India vision, so that more of the value in this industry is created here, not just assembled here.
— Madhav Sheth, CEO, Ai+ Smartphone and Founder, NxtQuantum Shift Technologies
