Europe's Fairphone enters U.S. market tapping right-to-repair demand

Dutch ethical‑electronics maker Fairphone is entering the U.S. market with its repairable headphones, preparing the ground for a phone launch, its chief executive, Raymond van Eck, told Reuters in an interview.

The move taps into a growing consumer and legislative push in the U.S. for a "right-to-repair" where consumers look long-term at the total cost of ownership beyond tariff-inflated price tags, the CEO said.

"Our strategy is built for uncertainty. The tariffs weather may change daily, but the demand signal in the U.S. is clear," van Eck said, adding that "right-to-repair legislation is advancing nationwide, creating a new opportunity for us."

In recent years, many U.S. states have enacted "right-to-repair" laws as consumers and lawmakers clash over products, from smartphones to tractors, that are difficult or impossible to fix.

Like most electronics brands, Fairphone manufactures in China, but its emphasis on sustainability, from mines to chips, demands greater supply chain traceability and helps it navigate component shortages, the CEO said.

Fairphone reported a 61 percent year-on-year revenue increase in the third quarter of 2025, with device sales rising 61 percent, audio by 40 percent, and spare parts by 41 percent.

The company aims to sell at least as many audio units in the U.S. this year as it sold in Europe last year. It declined to give sales targets.

A 34-percent tariff currently impacts its prices.

Its flagship device, the Fairphone 6, promises eight years of total support, five years of warranty, and spare parts until 2033.

The audio line, sold via a partnership with Amazon, is intended as a beachhead into the U.S. market. More than 90 percent of phones in the country are sold through mobile network operators, van Eck said, noting that the launch is being carefully planned.