October 22, 2015 – Despite the recent reports and subsequent denials that its handset division was being considered for the chop, Sony has committed to building a new smartphone factory in Thailand, its first new handset manufacturing plant in 20 years.
The new facility will be built in Thailand’s Pathum Thani province, consisting of a start-to-finish production system.
Sony is expected to invest several billion Yen in the project, with mass production starting in 2016’s financial year.
Unlike its last mobile phone facility which was built in Beijing back in 1995 in partnership with three local companies, Sony will retain full ownership of this new smartphone manufacturing plant, which it hopes will allow for speedier decision making.
Building this new plant should ward off any further speculation of Sony backing away from the smartphone business.