UPDATE 1-Sony sees 3D TVs making up half of 2012-13 shipment

*Sees 3D TVs as driver for its TV business

*In talks with several firms on auto lithium-ion batteries

*Sees "very small impact" on earnings at current dollar/yen

(Adds details and background)

TOKYO, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Japanese electronics and entertainment conglomerate Sony Corp expects 3D TVs to account for up to 50 percent of its total TV shipments in the financial year to March 2013, a leading executive said.

Executive Deputy President Hiroshi Yoshioka also told a group of reporters the company was in talks with several companies over supply of lithium-ion batteries for automobiles. He declined to give specific names.

Yoshioka is in charge of Sony's TV, digital camera and electronic devices operations.

Sony's TV business is in its sixth straight year of losses as it grapples with a firmer yen and intensified competition from Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and LG Electronics Inc.

The company is planning to roll out its 3D TVs next year and pins its hopes on these next-generation displays to boost its TV business.

Last week, the company said it aims for more than 1 trillion yen in sales of 3D-related products in the year ending March 2013.

Sony, which is currently producing lithium ion batteries for laptop computers and other gadgets, also said last week that it would start making lithium-ion batteries for electric cars.

It will likely compete with Sanyo Electric and GS Yuasa, which are already supplying rechargeable batteries for hybrid and electric cars.

Yoshioka said the impact of the dollar's sharp fall against the yen would have "a very small impact" on its earnings at the current level.

One yen gain against the dollar trims 1 billion yen ($11.5 million) from the company's annual operating profit.

The dollar slumped to a 14-year low against the yen on Thursday. ($1=86.85 Yen) (Reporting by Kentaro Hamada; Editing by Jon Loades-Carter) ((taiga.uranaka@thomsonreuters.com; +81-3-6441-1813; Reuters Messaging: taiga.uranaka.reuters.com@reuters.net)) ((If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com))