Smartphone maker Nothing has inaugurated its first flagship store in India, selecting Bengaluru as the launch city. Yes, the store launch made headlines, but what truly stole the spotlight was CEO Carl Pei’s grand entrance arriving in a branded auto-rickshaw and sparking cheers from fans outside the Bengaluru flagship. The debut quickly became a social media sensation, fueled by CEO Carl Pei’s dramatic arrival in a branded auto-rickshaw, which drew enthusiastic cheers from fans outside the store.
Footage of Pei's entrance in an auto-rickshaw, showcasing a striking white vehicle adorned with Nothing's signature branding, quickly gained traction online. As he entered the store to applause, this unique yet distinctly Bengaluru-style arrival became a highlight of the launch event. The excitement continued as Pei personally processed the first customer's purchase, while hundreds, and eventually thousands, lined up even before the official opening. Large crowds gathered outside the flagship store, emphasizing the brand's increasing popularity in India's tech hub.
Pei later thanked Bengaluru residents for the overwhelming response, sharing videos and moments from outside the store that showed fans cheering and recording the event. Social media users were quick to react, with one congratulating the brand and calling Bengaluru’s energy “infectious,” while another joked that they expected “Nothing” to happen, only to be blown away by the scale of the launch.
Several attendees at the store opening also shared their excitement online. One visitor described the experience as surreal, saying they had covered Nothing products for years and were thrilled to finally witness the brand’s first India store amid a “crazy” crowd and buzzing atmosphere. Another user claimed that over 2,000 people showed up for the opening and Pei’s arrival, calling Bengaluru’s tech community unmatched globally.
The choice of India, and Bengaluru specifically, for the brand’s first flagship outlet was explained by Pei, who said the country is among Nothing’s largest markets worldwide. “A lot of our users are in India, and within India, most of them are in Bangalore. There’s also a strong tech community here, so it felt natural to start here,” he added.