Realme follows Oppo, OnePlus, Vivo in exiting German market: Report

Chinese multinational conglomerate BBK Electronics is currently on its last leg in Germany. The BBK Group is the parent company of major smartphone brands including Realme, Oppo, Vivo, and OnePlus.

However, of the four smartphone brands, Realme is the only one still operating in the German market, although that may no longer be the case as the clock appears to be ticking down on Realme.

Why is Realme exiting Germany?

Back in 2021, Nokia sued Oppo and OnePlus for patent infringement in Germany. Nokia eventually won the lawsuit and Oppo and OnePlus were forced to cease operations in the country.

Now, the same lawsuit is expected to force another BBK-owned company to end its operation in Europe. According to a report by NextPit, Realme is exiting the German market as Nokia's patent was reportedly restricting Realme's business in the country.

The news come less than a couple of weeks after Vivo, another BBK-owned company, shut down its online stores in Germany. Vivo's official website in Germany only shows a short statement saying that Vivo products are no longer available in the country.

The Future of Realme in Europe

According to the report, Realme's European division told Nextpit that Realme's business in Germany had "slowed down" after some internal consultation and the pending Nokia lawsuit. However, the company is still awaiting positive developments regarding license negotiations with Nokia before it resumes operations in Germany.

While the report doesn't outright confirm Realme's exit from Germany, it does suggest that it is imminent. It also notes that Realme focus on other core European markets including Italy, Poland, Spain, and the Balkans. Realme will also continue to offer support and service its smartphones in Germany despite the imminent exit.