Nokia-brand owner HMD starts making 5G smartphones in Europe

FILE PHOTO: A screen displays the company logo for Nokia Corporation on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., May 24, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo

LONDON (Reuters) - 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 thrilled to be manufacturing the Nokia XR21, our signature rugged 5G smartphone, in Europe," HMD Global co-founder, chairman and CEO Jean-Francois Baril said on Tuesday.