Sony Group and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) are planning to invest about $6.3 billion in a joint venture to develop and manufacture next-generation image sensors in Japan.
According to a report by Nikkei, the companies are considering an investment of roughly ¥1 trillion, with Sony expected to hold a 60% stake and TSMC the remaining 40%.
The joint venture is expected to begin commercial production as early as 2029 at a facility in Kumamoto Prefecture, southern Japan.
The partnership will combine Sony’s expertise in image-sensor design with TSMC’s advanced semiconductor manufacturing and process technology. The companies are also looking to target growing demand for sensors used in automotive systems, robotics and other physical AI applications.
Sony and TSMC first announced plans for the strategic partnership in May 2026. Sony said the collaboration is intended to strengthen its position in the image-sensor market while expanding production capacity to meet future demand.
The development highlights the growing importance of advanced image sensors as AI moves beyond software and into physical devices such as autonomous vehicles and robots.
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