EssilorLuxottica to start smart glasses production in Italy by early 2027

MILAN, June 9 (Reuters) - Franco-Italian eyewear maker EssilorLuxottica said in a joint statement with Italian trade unions on Tuesday it would start producing smart eyewear in Italy by early 2027.

• The group has a long-term partnership with tech giant Meta Platforms to develop smart glasses under the Ray-Ban and Oakley brands.

• Its flagship Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are currently manufactured in Asia.

• The statement did not specify which types of wearable devices would be produced in Italy.

• "The EssilorLuxottica initiative represents an industrial choice of strong strategic value given the high technological content of wearables. It is based on the aim of maintaining the role of Italian plants as innovation hubs", the group said.

(Reporting by Elisa Anzolin, editing by Cristina Carlevaro and Alvise Armellini)