Adidas vs Toyota: Founders, CEOs and History
Adidas was founded in 1949 by Adolf Dassler and is led by Bjørn Gulden. Toyota was founded in 1937 by Kiichiro Toyoda, Sakichi Toyoda and is led by Kenta Kon.
Company facts
Founders
Adidas
Adolf Dassler
Adolf Dassler was the sole founder of Adidas. He developed sport-specific footwear, sought athlete feedback, and registered the Adidas company and 3-Stripes footwear in 1949.
Toyota
Kiichiro Toyoda
Kiichiro Toyoda (1894-1952) founded the Toyota Motor Corporation in 1937, spinning it out of his father's successful textile machinery business.
Sakichi Toyoda
Sakichi Toyoda was not the founder of Toyota Motor Corporation but his inventions and philosophy created the foundation on which it was built. His loom patents generated the capital Kiichiro needed to experiment with automobiles.
CEOs and their tenures
Adidas
- Robert Louis-Dreyfus1993–2001
CEO
He led Adidas through its 1990s restructuring and transition to a publicly listed sporting-goods group.
Source - Herbert Hainer2001–2016
CEO
During his tenure Adidas expanded its brand portfolio and grew its global footwear and apparel business.
Source - Kasper Rørsted2016–2022
CEO
Under Rørsted's leadership from 2016 to 2022, Adidas doubled its North American market share and expanded annual e-commerce sales from €1 billion to over €4 billion.
Source - Bjørn Gulden2023–present
CEO
Adidas reported 2025 sales of ~$28 billion (EUR24.811 billion) and attributable net income of ~$1.51 billion (EUR1.340 billion) during his tenure. His appointment was extended through 2030.
Source
Toyota
- Akio Toyoda2009–2023
President and Chief Executive Officer (now Chairman)
Akio Toyoda took leadership during one of Toyota's hardest modern periods, including the global financial crisis and the unintended acceleration recall crisis.
Source - Koji Sato2023–2026
President and Chief Executive Officer (now Vice Chairman)
Koji Sato inherited a profitable but scrutinized Toyota.
Source - Kenta Kon2026–present
President and Chief Executive Officer
As CFO, he managed the immense capital allocation required for Toyota's massive $35 billion commitment to fully electrify its vehicle lineup by 2030.
Source
Timeline: Adidas and Toyota side by side
1924Adidas
Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory Established
Adolf and Rudolf Dassler established the predecessor shoe business in Herzogenaurach.
1936Adidas
Jesse Owens Wears Dassler Shoes
Jesse Owens competed in Dassler track shoes while winning four gold medals at the Berlin Olympics.
1937Toyota
Toyota Motor Corporation incorporated
Toyota Motor Corporation was incorporated after Kiichiro Toyoda expanded the Toyoda family business from automatic looms into automobile manufacturing.
1949Adidas
Adidas Registered
Adolf Adi Dassler registered Adidas in Herzogenaurach after separating from Rudolf, who founded Puma.
1954Adidas
World Cup Boot Breakthrough
West Germany won the 1954 World Cup wearing Adidas boots with replaceable studs.
1955Toyota
Toyopet Crown launched
The Toyopet Crown gave Toyota a postwar passenger-car platform and later became its first passenger car exported to the United States.
1966Toyota
Corolla launched
Toyota launched the Corolla, a compact car that became central to its mass-market export strategy.
1970Adidas
Telstar World Cup Match Ball
Adidas supplied the Telstar as the official match ball for the 1970 FIFA World Cup.
1989Toyota
Lexus launches
Toyota launched Lexus with the LS 400, moving into premium vehicles with a quality-led strategy.
1993Adidas
Robert Louis-Dreyfus Becomes CEO
Robert Louis-Dreyfus became CEO and led a restructuring of Adidas.
1995Adidas
Adidas Lists Publicly
Adidas completed its public listing in Frankfurt under Robert Louis-Dreyfus.
1997Adidas
Salomon Group Acquisition
Adidas acquired Salomon Group, adding winter sports equipment and TaylorMade golf.
1997Toyota
Prius launches in Japan
Toyota launched the Prius, turning hybrid technology into a mass-produced passenger vehicle.
2006Adidas
Reebok Acquisition Completed
Adidas completed its $3.8 billion acquisition of Reebok.
2016Toyota
Acquired Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.
Toyota Motor acquired Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd..
2021Adidas
Reebok Divestiture Agreement
Adidas agreed to sell Reebok to Authentic Brands Group for total consideration of up to $2.37 billion (EUR2.1 billion).
2021Toyota
Acquired Lyft Level 5
Toyota Motor acquired Lyft Level 5 for $550 million.
2021Toyota
Acquired CARMERA
Toyota Motor acquired CARMERA.
2022Adidas
Ye Partnership Terminated
Adidas terminated its partnership with Ye and stopped production of Yeezy branded products.
2023Adidas
Bjørn Gulden Becomes CEO
Bjørn Gulden became Adidas CEO on January 1, 2023.
2025Adidas
Record 2025 Sales
Adidas reported sales of ~$28 billion (EUR24.811 billion) and attributable net income of ~$1.51 billion (EUR1.340 billion) for 2025.
2026Toyota
Kenta Kon becomes president and CEO
Kenta Kon became president and CEO on April 1, 2026, while Koji Sato moved to vice chairman and chief industry officer.
2026Toyota
FY2026 sales revenues reach ~$340B (JPY 50.685T)
Toyota reported FY2026 sales revenues of ~$340 billion (JPY 50,684.952 billion) and net income attributable to Toyota Motor Corporation of ~$25.8 billion (JPY 3,848.098 billion).
Acquisitions
Adidas
- Runtastic2015$240M
- Five Ten2011$25M
- Reebok2006$3.8B
- Salomon Group1997$1.4B
Toyota
- Lyft Level 52021$550M
- CARMERA2021Undisclosed
- Renovo Motors2021Undisclosed
- Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.2016Undisclosed
- Toyota Auto Body2012Undisclosed
Questions about Adidas vs Toyota
Who is the CEO of Adidas AG and Toyota Motor Corporation?
Adidas AG is led by Bjørn Gulden and Toyota Motor Corporation is led by Kenta Kon. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Adidas AG founded vs Toyota Motor Corporation?
Toyota Motor Corporation was founded in 1937 — 12 years before Adidas AG, which was founded in 1949. Toyota Motor Corporation's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Adidas AG.
How many employees does Adidas AG have compared to Toyota Motor Corporation?
Adidas AG employs approximately 64,938 people, while Toyota Motor Corporation employs approximately 375,235. Toyota Motor Corporation has the larger workforce at 375,235 employees, compared to Adidas AG's 64,938. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Adidas AG and Toyota Motor Corporation headquartered?
Adidas AG is headquartered in Germany and Toyota Motor Corporation is headquartered in Japan. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Adidas AG and Toyota Motor Corporation?
Adidas AG was founded by Adolf Dassler. Toyota Motor Corporation was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda, Sakichi Toyoda.
Which company has a longer operating history — Adidas AG or Toyota Motor Corporation?
Toyota Motor Corporation has been operating for approximately 89 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Adidas AG has been in operation for around 77 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Adidas vs Toyota overview