Sony Group(US:SONY) 凤凰网财经·2025-12-19 13:07Core Viewpoint - Sony is closing its factory in Huizhou, Guangdong, and transferring its ownership to RS Corporation (RST), which plans to continue production of optical pickup heads and start a new business in automotive camera modules, capitalizing on the growing market for automotive cameras [1][2][4]. Group 1: Company Actions - Sony's Huizhou factory, known as Sony Precision Parts (Huizhou) Co., Ltd. (SPDH), is being sold to RST, with the acquisition expected to be finalized by late December 2024 [2]. - SPDH has been involved in the production and sales of optical pickup head modules and automotive camera modules, and RST aims to leverage its manufacturing capabilities [4]. - The factory has been renamed to Aiso Precision Parts (Huizhou) Co., Ltd., and currently employs 1,070 people, a significant reduction from its peak of over 30,000 employees [5]. Group 2: Market Insights - The automotive camera market has reached a size of $5 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to $8 billion by 2029, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.9% [4]. - China's share in the global automotive camera market is increasing, driven by the rising sales of new energy vehicles, indicating a favorable outlook for RST's acquisition of SPDH [4]. Group 3: Strategic Shifts - Sony's Xperia smartphone business is being phased out in China, as indicated by the official account entering a cancellation period and the removal of related products from the website [7][8]. - Despite the CFO's previous statements about the importance of the Xperia business, the focus has shifted towards entertainment sectors, which account for over 60% of Sony's consolidated sales revenue [8]. - Sony's President in China acknowledged the market's vitality and creativity, suggesting a strategic pivot towards more profitable segments [9].