Haval vs Nissan: Founders, CEOs and History
Haval was founded in 2013 by Wei Jianjun (Jack Wey) and is led by Mu Feng. Nissan was founded in 1933 by Yoshisuke Aikawa, William Gorham, Masujiro Hashimoto and is led by Ivan Espinosa.
Company facts
Founders
Haval
Wei Jianjun (Jack Wey)
Wei Jianjun (Jack Wey), born in 1964, became head of Great Wall Motor in 1990 at age 26.
Nissan
Yoshisuke Aikawa
Yoshisuke Aikawa founded the massive Nissan zaibatsu in the 1920s. Recognizing the absolute critical importance of the rapidly growing automotive industry, he consolidated several smaller motor companies (including DAT Motors) into Nissan Motor Co.
William Gorham
William Gorham was an American engineer who moved to Japan and played an absolutely vital role in the founding of Nissan.
Masujiro Hashimoto
Masujiro Hashimoto founded the Kwaishinsha Motor Car Works in 1911, which produced the 'DAT' car.
Rokuro Aoyama
Rokuro Aoyama was one of the three primary financial backers (alongside Den and Takeuchi) of Hashimoto's original company, providing the 'A' in the 'DAT' acronym.
CEOs and their tenures
Haval
- Wei Jianjun1990–present
Chairman, Great Wall Motor
Wei Jianjun has led GWM since 1990 and is its controlling shareholder. He decided to separate Haval from the Great Wall brand in 2013 and still sets group strategy.
Source - Wang Fengying2002–2016
President, Great Wall Motor
Serving as the highly influential President and CEO of Great Wall Motor for nearly two decades, she built Haval into the absolute best-selling SUV brand in China before leaving to join Xpeng in 2023.
Source - Mu Feng2022–present
President and CEO, Great Wall Motor
Mu Feng runs GWM's day-to-day operations across Haval, WEY, Tank, ORA and the pickup brand, with a focus on new-energy models and global production.
Source
Nissan
- Katsuji Kawamata1957–1973
President & Chairman
Transformed Nissan from a domestic Japanese producer into an international export leader.
Source - Carlos Ghosn1999–2017
Executive Officer & CEO
Rescued Nissan from imminent bankruptcy and built the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi global alliance.
Source - Hiroto Saikawa2017–2019
Chief Executive Officer
Hiroto Saikawa served as chief executive of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. from 2017 to 2019.
Source - Makoto Uchida2019–2025
Representative Executive Officer, President & CEO
Returned Nissan to profit after the pandemic, but stepped down in March 2025 after results collapsed in FY2024 and merger talks with Honda failed.
Source - Ivan Espinosa2025–present
President and Chief Executive Officer
Mexican-born former chief planning officer who succeeded Makoto Uchida as CEO on April 1, 2025. Launched the Re:Nissan cost and restructuring plan and led Nissan back to a quarterly operating profit in Q1 FY2026.
Source
Timeline: Haval and Nissan side by side
1914Nissan
Creation of the DAT Car: Masujiro Hashimoto creates the DAT passenger car at Kaishinsha in Tokyo, establishing the engineering roots of Datsun and Nissan.
1933Nissan
Founding of Jidosha Seizo in Yokohama: Yoshisuke Aikawa establishes Jidosha Seizo Co., Ltd. in Yokohama, renamed Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. in 1934.
1958Nissan
Mobilgas Round Australia Trial Victory: Datsun 1000 captures class honors in the 10,000-mile endurance trial, launching Nissan's international export offensive.
1966Nissan
Merger with Prince Motor Company: Nissan absorbs Prince Motor Company, acquiring top aeronautical engineering talent, royal coachbuilding prestige, and the well-known Skyline and Gloria nameplates.
1969Nissan
Launch of Datsun 240Z and Skyline GT-R: Nissan releases the affordable inline-six Datsun 240Z sports coupe in the US and the dual-overhead-cam Skyline 2000GT-R in Japan, shattering European performanc…
1989Nissan
Infiniti Luxury Division & R32 GT-R Debut: Nissan launches Infiniti in North America with the Q45 flagship sedan and revives the R32 Skyline GT-R featuring ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive.
1999Nissan
Formation of Renault-Nissan Alliance: Facing $20B in corporate debt, Nissan forms an equity alliance with Renault S.A.; Carlos Ghosn launches the Nissan Revival Plan to rescue the company.
2002Haval
Great Wall Safe (Saijun) SUV Launched
Launched China's first mass-market affordable SUV, igniting the domestic consumer SUV boom.
2010Nissan
Commercialization of 100% Electric Nissan Leaf: Nissan releases the Leaf, creating the modern mass-market electric vehicle segment and selling over 650,000 units globally.
2011Haval
Launch of the Revolutionary Haval H6 Crossover
Introduced the unibody compact SUV that became China's best-selling SUV for over 100 consecutive months.
2013Haval
Haval Spun Off as Independent Dedicated SUV Brand
Wei Jianjun officially established Haval as an independent marque with its own brand logo and dealer network.
2016Nissan
Acquisition of 34% Controlling Stake in Mitsubishi Motors: Nissan invests $2.2 billion to purchase a controlling 34% stake in Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, creating the three-way Alliance.
2018Haval
Haval Cumulative Global Sales Surpasses 5 Million SUVs
Celebrated 5 million cumulative SUV sales, solidifying its title as China's 'SUV King'.
2020Haval
Launch of Haval Big Dog (DaGou) Rugged Lifestyle Crossover
Pioneered the popular 3/4-scale rugged lifestyle crossover segment, appealing to outdoor enthusiasts.
2020Nissan
Unveiling of Nissan NEXT Turnaround Plan: then-CEO Makoto Uchida unveils Nissan NEXT, rationalizing global capacity by 20% and focusing core investments on e-POWER and EVs.
2022Haval
Mu Feng becomes CEO
Mu Feng became CEO of Haval in 2022. Mu Feng runs GWM's day-to-day operations across Haval, WEY, Tank, ORA and the pickup brand, with a focus on new-energy models and global production.
2023Haval
Launch of Proprietary Hi4 Intelligent Hybrid 4WD Technology
Commercialized GWM's dual-motor hybrid system, offering 4WD capability at 2WD pricing and fuel efficiency.
2024Haval
Haval Expands Hybrid and Export Range
Expanded Hi4 and hybrid versions of the H6, Jolion and Raptor across China and export markets.
2024Nissan
Historic EV Collaboration with Honda: Nissan and Honda sign a strategic partnership to co-develop electric vehicle drive platforms, standardized core components, and automotive software OS.
2025Haval
About 758,000 Haval SUVs Sold
Haval remained GWM's largest brand as group revenue rose 10.2% to ~$31 billion (RMB 222.82 billion).
2025Nissan
Honda merger talks end in February; Ivan Espinosa becomes CEO on April 1; Re:Nissan recovery plan announced in May.
2026Haval
Haval H6 Refresh and Brazil Plant Plan
GWM launched a refreshed H6 in China in June 2026 and announced a new 200,000-unit factory in Espírito Santo, Brazil.
2026Nissan
FY2025 results show ~$80.4 billion (¥12.0 trillion) revenue and a ~$3.57 billion (¥533.1 billion) net loss; Q1 FY2026 operating profit returns to ~$522 million (¥77.9 billion).
Acquisitions
Haval
- Mercedes-Benz Iracemápolis plant (Brazil)2021Undisclosed
- General Motors Rayong plant (Thailand)2020Undisclosed
- General Motors Talegaon plant (India asset purchase)2020Undisclosed
Nissan
- Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (34% Controlling Stake)2016$2.2B
- Mitsubishi Motors2016Undisclosed
- Prince Motor Company1966Undisclosed
Questions about Haval vs Nissan
Who is the CEO of Haval and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.?
Haval is led by Mu Feng and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. is led by Ivan Espinosa. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Haval founded vs Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.?
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. was founded in 1933 — 80 years before Haval, which was founded in 2013. Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Haval.
How many employees does Haval have compared to Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.?
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. employs approximately 120,079 people. A verified employee count for Haval is not currently available.
Where are Haval and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. headquartered?
Haval is headquartered in China and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. is headquartered in Japan. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Haval and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.?
Haval was founded by Wei Jianjun (Jack Wey). Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. was founded by Yoshisuke Aikawa, William Gorham, Masujiro Hashimoto, Rokuro Aoyama.
Which company has a longer operating history — Haval or Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.?
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. has been operating for approximately 93 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Haval has been in operation for around 13 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 Haval vs Nissan overview