WELL MATCHED:
The joint venture would lower Sony’s spending burden to stay relevant in chips, while TSMC secures steady revenue, said an analyst, calling it ‘virtually risk-free’
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) and Sony Group Corp are in talks to spend a combined ￥1 trillion (US$6.3 billion) on their planned image sensor factory in Japan, a person familiar with the matter said. The companies are seeking to begin production in 2029, the person said, asking not to be named because the talks are private. No time frame was given for the investment under discussion, they said.
The logo of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co is pictured at the company’s second-quarter earnings conference in Taipei on July 16.
TSMC and the Japanese company’s chip arm, Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corp, are eyeing demand for artificial intelligence (AI)-wielding robots and self-driving vehicles, which are expected to require more sensors to function.In May, the two partners announced preliminary talks to build production lines and development facilities within Sony’s existing image sensor factory in southern Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture.
