TSMC2026-08-10 10:21:52Nikkei: TSMC and Sony plan Kumamoto chip venture targeting automotive and robotics demandSony Group and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) plan to invest about 1 trillion yen, or roughly $6.3 billion, to form a joint venture in Kumamoto Prefecture, according to a report from Nikkei. The venture is intended to mass-produce next-generation semiconductors used in image sensors, with Sony expected to hold about 60% and TSMC about 40%. Commercial production could begin as early as 2029. Nikkei said the manufacturing base would use Sony Semiconductor Solutions’ existing site in Kumamoto rather than a newly built location. The report also said the two companies aim to establish the joint venture during fiscal 2026, while an investment agreement could be finalized in the coming months. The partnership builds on an announcement made in May, when Sony and TSMC said they would jointly develop and manufacture next-generation image sensors. Sony is expected to contribute sensor design capabilities, while TSMC would provide manufacturing and process technology. Nikkei added that Sony is already a minority shareholder in TSMC’s Kumamoto plant, meaning local cooperation between the two groups is already in place. The report said the effort is aimed not only at smartphones but also at Physical AI applications, including automotive and robotics, where demand for high-performance sensors is expected to matter more after 2029.670
TSMC2026-08-04 10:21:19TSMC Kumamoto JASM Plant Back to Full Operations After 7.1-Magnitude EarthquakeTSMC has confirmed that its JASM fab in Kumamoto, Japan, has resumed full operations after the 7.1-magnitude earthquake that struck on July 28. The company carried out structural inspections at the plant, and the results showed no major damage. Employees at the site were reported safe, and equipment calibration has been completed. The plant, called JASM, started commercial production in late 2024 and has a monthly output of about 55,000 12-inch wafers, which amounts to less than 3 percent of TSMC's total production capacity. This incident demonstrates the resilience of the semiconductor supply chain, an important factor for both crypto mining hardware manufacturers and AI chip producers. The update was reported by CryptoBriefing and shared by Techub News. TSMC's confirmation came after the earthquake hit the Kumamoto area on July 28 with a magnitude of 7.1. All production-related systems were recalibrated before the plant resumed full operations.2230
