Ford vs Hitachi: Founders, CEOs and History
Ford was founded in 1903 by Henry Ford, Alexander Y. Malcomson and is led by Jim Farley. Hitachi was founded in 1910 by Namihei Odaira and is led by Toshiaki Tokunaga.
Company facts
Founders
Ford
Henry Ford
Ford Motor Company possesses arguably the most famous, influential founding story in the entire history of global capitalism, tracing its roots to the ambition of the man who invented modern mass production.
Alexander Y. Malcomson
Alexander Malcomson was essential to the creation of Ford Motor Company because he helped turn Henry Ford's mechanical vision into an incorporated enterprise.
Hitachi
Namihei Odaira
Hitachi possesses a historic, foundational founding story, rooted in the industrialization of early 20th-century Japan and driven by a nationalist obsession with technological independence.
CEOs and their tenures
Ford
- William Clay Ford Jr.2001–2006
Chairman and CEO
He handed the chief executive role to Alan Mulally in 2006 and remained executive chairman.
Source - Alan Mulally2006–2014
Former President and CEO
Mulally is universally recognized as the savior of the modern Ford Motor Company. By breaking down entrenched corporate fiefdoms and instilling a culture of radical transparency and operational discipline, he orchestrated one of the most remarkable corporate t…
Source - Mark Fields2014–2017
President and CEO
Ford announced investments in electric and autonomous vehicles during his tenure, and the board replaced him in 2017 with Jim Hackett.
Source - Jim Hackett2017–2020
President and CEO
Hackett launched the redesign of Ford operations before retiring in 2020, when Jim Farley became chief executive.
Source - Jim Farley2020–present
President and Chief Executive Officer
Farley's aggressive, uncompromising leadership has forced a profound cultural and structural modernization at the 120-year-old automaker.
Source
Hitachi
- Toshiaki Higashihara2016–2022
Former President and Chief Executive Officer
Shifted Hitachi from a sprawling conglomerate toward infrastructure and digital businesses.
Source - Keiji Kojima2022–2025
Executive Chairman (CEO 2022-2025)
Finished much of the portfolio cleanup and handed over a more focused group to Tokunaga.
Source - Toshiaki Tokunaga2025–present
President and Chief Executive Officer
Brings an energy and rail background to the top job as Hitachi Energy and Hitachi Rail drive more of the group's growth.
Source
Timeline: Ford and Hitachi side by side
1903Ford
Ford Motor Company Founded
Henry Ford and investors incorporated Ford Motor Company in Michigan to produce and sell automobiles.
1908Ford
Model T Introduced
The Model T became Ford's breakthrough mass-market automobile and set up the company's scale advantage.
1910Hitachi
Founding and First Induction Motor
Namihei Odaira establishes the machinery repair shop that becomes Hitachi, and develops Japan's first 5-horsepower induction motor, establishing the foundation for the company's dominance in electrical engineering.
1913Ford
Moving Assembly Line
Ford's moving assembly line changed industrial manufacturing and lowered the cost of automobile production.
1932Hitachi
Expansion into Railway Technology
Hitachi begins manufacturing electric locomotives and rail signaling systems, establishing a deep, institutionalized relationship with the Japanese national railway network that would evolve into the modern Hitachi Rail division.
1959Hitachi
Entry into Computing and Electronics
Hitachi develops its first electronic computer, the HITAC, marking the company's strategic entry into the information technology sector and laying the groundwork for its future digital systems business.
1999Ford
Acquired Volvo Cars
Ford Motor acquired Volvo Cars for $6.45 billion. Ford acquired Volvo Cars to strengthen its global premium portfolio and gain access to a brand known for safety engineering.
2006Ford
One Ford Turnaround Begins
Alan Mulally began the One Ford turnaround, simplifying the company and preserving liquidity before the financial crisis.
2016Hitachi
Toshiaki Higashihara becomes CEO
Toshiaki Higashihara became CEO of Hitachi in 2016. Shifted Hitachi from a sprawling conglomerate toward infrastructure and digital businesses.
2020Ford
Jim Farley becomes CEO
Jim Farley became CEO of Ford Motor in 2020. Farley's aggressive, uncompromising leadership has forced a profound cultural and structural modernization at the 120-year-old automaker.
2020Hitachi
Acquisition of ABB's Power Grids Business
Hitachi executes the $11 billion acquisition of ABB's Power Grids business, renaming it Hitachi Energy and instantly establishing the company as the global leader in HVDC transmission and grid infrastructure.
2021Ford
Ford Pro Strategy Accelerates
Ford sharpened its commercial-vehicle strategy around fleet services, telematics, charging, and customer lifetime value.
2021Hitachi
Acquisition of GlobalLogic
The company acquires the global digital engineering firm GlobalLogic for $9.6 billion, instantly establishing Hitachi as a top-tier provider of advanced software and product design services for the automotive and telecommunications sectors.
2022Hitachi
Hitachi Construction Machinery Stake Sale
Hitachi sold a controlling stake in Hitachi Construction Machinery to Itochu and Japan Industrial Partners, part of its exit from cyclical listed subsidiaries.
2023Ford
Segment Reporting Realigned
Ford began reporting Ford Blue, Ford Model e, and Ford Pro to clarify the economics of legacy, EV, and commercial businesses.
2024Hitachi
Acquired Thales Ground Transportation Systems
Hitachi acquired Thales Ground Transportation Systems. Hitachi Rail completed its ~$1.88 billion (EUR 1.66 billion) acquisition of Thales's Ground Transportation Systems business, its rail signalling division, expanding Hitachi Rail to 51 countries and shiftin…
2025Ford
Revenue Growth and Net Loss
Ford reported $187.267B of FY2025 revenue but a net loss of $8.162B, making capital discipline the central investor issue.
2025Hitachi
Toshiaki Tokunaga Becomes CEO
Toshiaki Tokunaga became President and CEO on April 1, 2025, succeeding Keiji Kojima, who became Executive Chairman.
2026Ford
Guidance Raised After EV Reset
Ford raised 2026 adjusted EBIT guidance to $10B-$11B in July 2026 despite a $1.3B Q2 net loss driven by BlueOval SK exit charges.
2026Hitachi
Record Results and Home Appliance Sale
Hitachi reported record FY2025 profit in April 2026 and agreed to sell 80.1% of its home appliance business to Nojima for about $737 million (¥110 billion).
Acquisitions
Ford
- Electriphi2021Undisclosed
- Spin2018$100M
- Autonomic2018Undisclosed
- Land Rover2000$2.7B
- Volvo Cars1999$6.5B
- Jaguar Cars1989$2.5B
Hitachi
- Thales Ground Transportation Systems2024Undisclosed
- GlobalLogic2021Undisclosed
- ABB Power Grids2020Undisclosed
Questions about Ford vs Hitachi
Who is the CEO of Ford Motor Company and Hitachi, Ltd.?
Ford Motor Company is led by Jim Farley and Hitachi, Ltd. is led by Toshiaki Tokunaga. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Ford Motor Company founded vs Hitachi, Ltd.?
Ford Motor Company was founded in 1903 — 7 years before Hitachi, Ltd., which was founded in 1910. Ford Motor Company's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Hitachi, Ltd..
How many employees does Ford Motor Company have compared to Hitachi, Ltd.?
Ford Motor Company employs approximately 169,000 people, while Hitachi, Ltd. employs approximately 287,901. Hitachi, Ltd. has the larger workforce at 287,901 employees, compared to Ford Motor Company's 169,000. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Ford Motor Company and Hitachi, Ltd. headquartered?
Ford Motor Company is headquartered in United States and Hitachi, Ltd. is headquartered in Japan. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Ford Motor Company and Hitachi, Ltd.?
Ford Motor Company was founded by Henry Ford, Alexander Y. Malcomson. Hitachi, Ltd. was founded by Namihei Odaira.
Which company has a longer operating history — Ford Motor Company or Hitachi, Ltd.?
Ford Motor Company has been operating for approximately 123 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Hitachi, Ltd. has been in operation for around 116 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 Ford vs Hitachi overview