Honda vs Mazda: Founders, CEOs and History
Honda was founded in 1948 by Soichiro Honda, Takeo Fujisawa and is led by Toshihiro Mibe. Mazda was founded in 1920 by Jujiro Matsuda, Kenichi Yamamoto and is led by Masahiro Moro.
Company facts
Founders
Honda
Soichiro Honda
Soichiro Honda was an absolutely legendary Japanese engineer, fiercely brilliant industrialist, and the profoundly influential founding patriarch fundamentally responsible for the incredible engineering dominance of the massive Honda Motor Company.
Takeo Fujisawa
Takeo Fujisawa was a highly visionary Japanese business executive and the profoundly influential co-founder fundamentally responsible for the incredibly brilliant commercial and financial architecture of the massive Honda Motor Company.
Mazda
Jujiro Matsuda
Jujiro Matsuda was a highly brilliant Japanese industrialist, fiercely resilient mechanical engineer, and the profoundly influential founding patriarch fundamentally responsible for architecting the massive Mazda Motor Corporation.
Kenichi Yamamoto
Kenichi Yamamoto is an absolutely legendary Japanese automotive engineer and the profoundly influential 'father of the rotary engine' fundamentally responsible for establishing the massively iconic technical identity of the Mazda Motor Corporation.
CEOs and their tenures
Honda
- Takahiro Hachigo2015–2021
Former President and CEO
Hachigo trimmed excess capacity and refocused Honda on hybrids, motorcycles and its core models, which improved profitability before the EV investment cycle began.
Source - Toshihiro Mibe2021–present
Director, President and Representative Executive Officer (CEO)
Mibe's tenure has been defined by the push into electrification and its costly reset. The EV charges produced Honda's first annual loss since listing, but the shift toward hybrids and motorcycles was followed by a record first-quarter profit in FY2027.
Source
Mazda
- Akira Marumoto2018–2023
Representative Director, President and CEO
Led Mazda from 2018 until Masahiro Moro succeeded him in June 2023.
Source - Masahiro Moro2023–present
Representative Director, President & CEO
Previously ran Mazda North American Operations; became President and CEO in June 2023 and is steering Mazda through US tariffs, the new CX-5 launch and a slower EV timeline.
Source
Timeline: Honda and Mazda side by side
1920Mazda
Toyo Cork Kogyo Founded in Hiroshima
Jujiro Matsuda established artificial cork manufacturing in Hiroshima.
1931Mazda
Launch of Mazda-Go Three-Wheeler
Introduced Mazda's first motorized vehicle to support Japanese transport.
1945Mazda
Surviving Hiroshima & Rebuilding
Factory sheltered from the atomic bomb, serving as the city's reconstruction HQ.
1948Honda
Honda Motor Founded
Soichiro Honda establishes Honda Motor Co., Ltd. in Japan.
1959Honda
American Honda Opens
Honda enters the US market, initially building awareness through motorcycles.
1963Honda
Honda Enters Automobiles
Honda expands from motorcycles and engines into automobile production.
1967Mazda
Commercial Launch of Rotary Cosmo Sport
Commercialized world's first dual-rotor Wankel rotary sports car.
1972Honda
Civic Launch
The Civic becomes a defining global nameplate for Honda's fuel-efficient automobile strategy.
1989Mazda
World Premiere of MX-5 Miata
Unveiled the lightweight roadster that defined modern sports car joy.
1991Mazda
Historic Victory at 24 Hours of Le Mans
Mazda 787B became the first Japanese car to win Le Mans with rotary power.
2021Honda
Toshihiro Mibe Becomes CEO
Mibe becomes CEO as Honda increases focus on electrification, software, and new mobility.
2021Mazda
Opening of Mazda Toyota Alabama Plant
Inaugurated $2.3B joint venture factory assembling the CX-50.
2026Honda
FY2026 Loss and EV Reset
Honda reports ~$146 billion (JPY 21.797 trillion) in sales revenue and a ~$2.84 billion (JPY 423.9 billion) loss attributable to owners after EV write-downs, then posts a record ~$3.56 billion (JPY 530.7 billion) Q1 FY2027 operating profit in August.
2026Mazda
US Tariffs Cut Operating Income to ¥51.6 Billion
FY March 2026 net sales were ~$33 billion (¥4.92 trillion); operating income fell 72% as US tariffs hit Japan- and Mexico-built exports.
Acquisitions
Mazda
No verified acquisitions are listed.
Questions about Honda vs Mazda
Who is the CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and Mazda Motor Corporation?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is led by Toshihiro Mibe and Mazda Motor Corporation is led by Masahiro Moro. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Honda Motor Co., Ltd. founded vs Mazda Motor Corporation?
Mazda Motor Corporation was founded in 1920 — 28 years before Honda Motor Co., Ltd., which was founded in 1948. Mazda Motor Corporation's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Honda Motor Co., Ltd..
How many employees does Honda Motor Co., Ltd. have compared to Mazda Motor Corporation?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. employs approximately 195,109 people, while Mazda Motor Corporation employs approximately 48,000. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has the larger workforce at 195,109 employees, compared to Mazda Motor Corporation's 48,000. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and Mazda Motor Corporation headquartered?
Both Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and Mazda Motor Corporation are headquartered in Japan, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and Mazda Motor Corporation?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. was founded by Soichiro Honda, Takeo Fujisawa. Mazda Motor Corporation was founded by Jujiro Matsuda, Kenichi Yamamoto.
Which company has a longer operating history — Honda Motor Co., Ltd. or Mazda Motor Corporation?
Mazda Motor Corporation has been operating for approximately 106 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has been in operation for around 78 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 Honda vs Mazda overview