TOKYO, Aug 10 (Reuters) - Sony Group ( SONY ) and Taiwan's TSMC plan to spend around 1 trillion yen ($6.32 billion) to jointly make next-generation microchips used in image sensors, the Nikkei business daily said on Monday.

A joint venture owned about 60% by Sony ( SONY ) and 40% by TSMC will start commercial production as early as 2029 in southern Japan's Kumamoto prefecture, the paper said. 

The two tech giants said in May they planned to form a joint venture in Japan to develop and manufacture next-generation image sensors, combining Sony's ( SONY ) sensor design expertise with TSMC's manufacturing and process technology strengths. 

Sony ( SONY ) and TSMC also said then that the partnership will explore opportunities in physical artificial intelligence applications such as automotive and robotics.

Sony ( SONY ) is the world's largest maker of image sensors widely used in smartphones and autos, while TSMC is the world's largest contract chipmaker.

Sony ( SONY ) declined to comment on the Nikkei report, while there was no immediate response from TSMC to Reuters' request for comment.  

($1 = 158.2700 yen)