Sony Group and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company will invest about $6.3 billion to set up a joint image‑sensor manufacturing venture in Japan.
The Information reported the plan, which follows a May partnership between the two firms to develop next‑generation, AI‑optimized sensors that pair Sony’s sensor designs with TSMC’s advanced process technology and target markets beyond smartphones such as automotive and robotics.
Reports place the new facility in Kumamoto, where Sony already operates image‑sensor fabs and has been expanding capacity.
The partners have discussed timing for commercial output, with some reports saying mass production could begin as early as 2029.
The proposal remains at the negotiation stage and would require a definitive agreement and customary closing conditions before investments proceed.
If completed the deal would deepen Sony’s reliance on external foundry technology while giving TSMC an expanded role in sensor manufacturing, a shift the companies have framed as necessary to scale sensors for AI and physical‑AI applications.
