Sony Group and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. are in talks to invest a combined ¥1 trillion ($6.4 billion) in a joint image sensor factory in Japan, targeting the start of production in 2029, according to Bloomberg. The new facility will be located inside Sony's current image sensor campus in Kumamoto Prefecture, in the south of Japan, according to Reuters. Sony's chip unit, Sony Semiconductor Solutions, will hold a controlling stake in the venture — approximately 60% — with TSMC owning the remaining 40%. "This is a virtually risk-free investment for Sony and TSMC," Toyo Research Advice analyst Hideki Yasuda said. Sony and TSMC signed a memorandum of understanding in May to form the joint venture, with Sony chief executive Hiroki Totoki describing it as the company's "first step to becoming fab-light."