Weekly Taiwan Business News: Sony-TSMC JV Explored, Bridgestone Closes Hsinchu Plant

Y's Consulting Group (Headquarters: Taipei City, ROC; Representative: Yasushi Yoshimoto), which distributes market trends and industry information in Taiwan, covers essential news for understanding Taiwan today in its "Weekly Taiwan Business News" May 18, 2026 issue. This includes news of Sony and TSMC exploring a joint venture for next-generation image sensors, a major business restructuring with Bridgestone Taiwan closing its only production base, a business alliance between atre and Taiwan Tsutaya, as well as new ferry services between Japan and Taiwan and entertainment exchanges.

[Highlights]

■ Sony and TSMC Explore Joint Venture for Next-Generation Image Sensors

Sony Semiconductor Solutions (SSS), the semiconductor subsidiary of Sony Group, signed a basic agreement on the 8th with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world's largest foundry, for a strategic partnership in the development and manufacturing of next-generation image sensors. The newly established joint venture assumes support from the Japanese government, with Sony planning to take a majority stake. In addition to considering line construction at a new plant in Koshi City, Kumamoto Prefecture, they will also advance the exploration of new opportunities in physical AI application fields such as automotive and robotics.

■ This Week's Notable Business and Economic Topics

1. [Automotive] Bridgestone Taiwan to Close Hsinchu Plant, Its Only Production Base

Major tire manufacturer Bridgestone Taiwan announced on the 11th that it will end production at its Hsinchu plant, its only production facility in Taiwan. Accordingly, it plans to lay off 551 employees (360 Taiwanese nationals and 191 foreign nationals). Based on its global strategy, the company will specialize its Taiwan business in sales and service moving forward, importing premium products like radial tires from Japan and other products from its overseas plants.

2. [Distribution & Retail] atre and Taiwan Tsutaya Partner to Promote Japan-Taiwan Product and Cultural Exchange

The Taiwan subsidiary of atre, a station building development and operating company of the JR East Group, and Taiwan Tsutaya, which operates TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE in Taiwan, signed a memorandum of understanding for a business alliance on the 14th. They plan to utilize both parties' stores to promote product and cultural exchanges between Japan and Taiwan. Furthermore, Taiwan Tsutaya opened the "Songyan Store" (its 13th store in Taiwan), its first directly managed store overseas, in the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park in Xinyi District, Taipei City, on the 16th.

3. [Entertainment] Musical "Kiki's Delivery Service" to Have World Premiere in Taipei and Taichung in July

A new symphonic production of the musical "Kiki's Delivery Service" will have its world premiere in Taiwan in July. It is scheduled to be performed at the National Theater (Taipei City) from July 10 to 19, and at the National Taichung Theater (Taichung City) from July 24 to August 2. At a production announcement held in Tokyo, original author Eiko Kadono expressed her joy, stating, "I want people in Taiwan to love it first," while scriptwriter and director Koki Kishimoto expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "We will deliver the maximum raw energy that cannot be reached digitally."