Haval vs Suzuki: Founders, CEOs and History
Haval was founded in 2013 by Wei Jianjun (Jack Wey) and is led by Mu Feng. Suzuki was founded in 1909 by Michio Suzuki and is led by Toshihiro Suzuki.
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.
Suzuki
Michio Suzuki
Michio Suzuki founded the Suzuki Loom Works in 1909. A brilliant, highly pragmatic inventor, he initially built incredibly reliable, highly innovative mechanical weaving looms for Japan's massive silk industry.
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
Suzuki
- Osamu Suzuki1978–2021
President & Chairman (19782021)
Transformed a regional Japanese motorcycle and kei car manufacturer into a global automotive leader producing over 3 million cars annually.
Source - Toshihiro Suzuki2015–present
Representative Director & President / CEO
Modernized Suzuki's product lineup, maintained market leadership in India and Japan, and navigated the capital-intensive transition to electrification while preserving corporate profitability.
Source
Timeline: Haval and Suzuki side by side
1909Suzuki
Michio Suzuki Founds Suzuki Loom Works: Michio Suzuki establishes Suzuki Loom Works in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, manufacturing innovative weaving looms for Japan's booming textile trade.
1952Suzuki
Launch of Power Free Motorized Bicycle: Suzuki enters motorized transportation with the Power Free 36cc two-stroke motorized bicycle, designed to provide affordable transportation for post-war Japanes…
1955Suzuki
Launch of Suzulight: Japan's Kei Car Pioneer: Introduces the Suzulight, a lightweight front-wheel-drive 360cc passenger car that helped pioneer Japan's official kei car minivehicle regulations.
1970Suzuki
Launch of First-Generation Jimny (LJ10): Unveils the Jimny LJ10, the world's first mass-produced 4x4 minivehicle, initiating a half-century global off-road cult phenomenon.
1982Suzuki
Historic Joint Venture Agreement Forming Maruti Udyog in India: Osamu Suzuki signs a landmark joint venture agreement with the Government of India, establishing Maruti Udyog Limited to motorized the s…
1983Suzuki
Rollout of the Maruti 800 in India: The first Maruti 800 rolls off the Gurgaon assembly line, priced accessibly to become the definitive people's car that motorized modern India.
2002Haval
Great Wall Safe (Saijun) SUV Launched
Launched China's first mass-market affordable SUV, igniting the domestic consumer SUV boom.
2004Suzuki
Launch of First Global Strategic Vehicle: Suzuki Swift: Debuts the redesigned Suzuki Swift as a global strategic hatchback engineered to European driving dynamics, achieving over 9 million global sale…
2009Suzuki
Volkswagen Alliance
Volkswagen bought a 19.9 percent stake in Suzuki in December 2009. The alliance broke down and ended in 2015.
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.
2015Suzuki
Victory in London International Arbitration Against Volkswagen: International Court of Arbitration orders Volkswagen to divest its 19.9% stake in Suzuki, vindicating Osamu Suzuki's defense of manageme…
2018Haval
Haval Cumulative Global Sales Surpasses 5 Million SUVs
Celebrated 5 million cumulative SUV sales, solidifying its title as China's 'SUV King'.
2019Suzuki
Capital Alliance Established with Toyota Motor Corporation: Toyota acquires a 4.94% equity stake in Suzuki, while Suzuki invests approximately $450 million in Toyota shares, cementing collaboration on…
2020Haval
Launch of Haval Big Dog (DaGou) Rugged Lifestyle Crossover
Pioneered the popular 3/4-scale rugged lifestyle crossover segment, appealing to outdoor enthusiasts.
2021Suzuki
Retirement of Osamu Suzuki at Age 91: Osamu Suzuki retires as Chairman after 43 years leading the corporation, transferring full stewardship to President Toshihiro Suzuki.
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.
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).
2025Suzuki
Global Rollout of Suzuki eVX Electric SUV: Launches its first dedicated global battery electric SUV (eVX) manufactured in Gujarat, India, featuring 60 kWh battery capacity and 500 km electric range.
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.
Acquisitions
Haval
- Mercedes-Benz Iracemápolis plant (Brazil)2021Undisclosed
- General Motors Rayong plant (Thailand)2020Undisclosed
- General Motors Talegaon plant (India asset purchase)2020Undisclosed
Suzuki
- Suzuki Motor Gujarat Pvt Ltd (Full Consolidation)2023$1.5B
- GMDAT2004Undisclosed
- Maruti Suzuki India Limited (Controlling Majority Equity Expansion)2002$242M
Questions about Haval vs Suzuki
Who is the CEO of Haval and Suzuki Motor Corporation?
Haval is led by Mu Feng and Suzuki Motor Corporation is led by Toshihiro Suzuki. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Haval founded vs Suzuki Motor Corporation?
Suzuki Motor Corporation was founded in 1909 — 104 years before Haval, which was founded in 2013. Suzuki Motor Corporation'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 Suzuki Motor Corporation?
Suzuki Motor Corporation employs approximately 70,000 people. A verified employee count for Haval is not currently available.
Where are Haval and Suzuki Motor Corporation headquartered?
Haval is headquartered in China and Suzuki Motor Corporation is headquartered in Japan. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Haval and Suzuki Motor Corporation?
Haval was founded by Wei Jianjun (Jack Wey). Suzuki Motor Corporation was founded by Michio Suzuki.
Which company has a longer operating history — Haval or Suzuki Motor Corporation?
Suzuki Motor Corporation has been operating for approximately 117 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 Suzuki overview