Sony Group and TSMC plan to establish a joint venture in Kumamoto Prefecture for next-generation image sensors, investing approximately ¥1 trillion in total and beginning mass production as early as 2029, Nikkei reported.
According to a report by The Nikkei on 10 August 2026, Sony will hold a majority stake in the joint venture, with an ownership ratio of approximately 60% for Sony and 40% for TSMC. The total investment is expected to be approximately ¥1 trillion, with the venture targeted for establishment within fiscal 2026, marking a move into the equipment design phase of a fab-light operation.
The amount and timeline were withheld in the basic agreement reached in May, but the latest report specified the ownership ratio, investment amount, establishment timeline and expected start of mass production. As no formal announcement has been made, the breakdown of the investment and the scale of government support remain undetermined.
The new sensor joint venture will not be an expansion of JASM, and will instead be based at Sony's plant in Koshi. TSMC holds an 86.5% controlling stake in JASM, while Sony is expected to contribute approximately 60% to the new joint venture, reversing the controlling relationship.
The cooperation will involve manufacturing stacked CMOS image sensors, with the pixel and logic layers separated. Separating pixel-side design from logic manufacturing will allow the two areas to be optimized independently, while pursuing smaller form factors and greater functionality.