EssilorLuxottica is relocating production of its smart glasses to Italy

EssilorLuxottica plans to begin manufacturing smart glasses in Italy as early as the beginning of 2027. This decision marks a turning point for the group, whose smart models have until now been produced in Asia.

The manufacturing of smart glasses in Italy in early 2027 represents a significant development for EssilorLuxottica, which is taking a new step forward in the industrial development of its connected devices business.

The group thus intends to continue its winning strategy in this segment, as competition intensifies around devices incorporating artificial intelligence, with several luxury and technology players also seeking to position themselves in this emerging market.

The partnership with Meta at the heart of the project

For several years, EssilorLuxottica has been collaborating with Meta to develop smart glasses marketed under the Ray-Ban and Oakley brands. This alliance has become one of the pillars of the group’s innovation strategy.

Ray-Ban Meta glasses, the flagship product of this collaboration, are currently manufactured in Asia. The transfer of part of production to Italy therefore reflects a desire to bring the manufacturing of certain high-value-added products closer to the group’s historic sites. The country also remains one of the world’s leading centers for eyewear manufacturing and is home to a significant portion of EssilorLuxottica’s historical expertise.

A rapidly growing market

Smart glasses are playing an increasingly important role in the group’s growth outlook. Although these products still account for only a limited share of revenue, their contribution to growth has become significant.

In fact, glasses incorporating artificial intelligence contributed more than four percentage points to the group’s revenue growth in the third quarter of last year, a period during which EssilorLuxottica’s revenue grew by 11.7%.

Investors’ growing interest in this business has also been reflected in the financial markets. In October 2025, EssilorLuxottica’s stock surged 13.8% following the release of earnings results bolstered by the commercial success of the smart glasses developed with Meta. Following this announcement, the stock closed higher last night at 179.70 euros, but is down this morning to 178.12 euros, a decline of -0.88%.