Honda vs Pagani: Founders, CEOs and History
Honda was founded in 1948 by Soichiro Honda, Takeo Fujisawa and is led by Toshihiro Mibe. Pagani was founded in 1992 by Horacio Pagani and is led by Horacio Pagani.
Company facts
Founders
Honda
Soichiro Honda
Soichiro Honda founded the company in 1946. Originally a mechanic who manufactured piston rings for Toyota, he realized that post-war Japan desperately needed cheap, reliable transportation.
Takeo Fujisawa
Takeo Fujisawa co-founded Honda in 1949, serving as the absolute perfect business counterpart to Soichiro Honda's engineering obsession.
Pagani
Horacio Pagani
Horacio Pagani (born 10 November 1955 in Casilda, Argentina) is the founder and chief designer of Pagani Automobili.
CEOs and their tenures
Honda
- Takeo Fukui2003–2009
President and Chief Executive Officer
Honda expanded production in North America and Asia under him. Takanobu Ito succeeded him in 2009.
Source - Takanobu Ito2009–2015
President and CEO
He introduced a plan to reorganise Honda global operations and handed the presidency to Takahiro Hachigo in 2015.
Source - 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
Pagani
- Horacio Pagani1992–present
Founder, Chairman & Chief Design Officer
Founded Modena Design (1991) and Pagani Automobili (1992); designed the Zonda, Huayra and Utopia and led development of Carbo-Titanium composites.
Source
Timeline: Honda and Pagani side by side
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.
1972Honda
Civic Launch
The Civic becomes a defining global nameplate for Honda's fuel-efficient automobile strategy.
1986Honda
Acquired Montesa
Honda Motor Co. acquired Montesa. Honda took control of the Spanish motorcycle maker Montesa, creating Montesa Honda to build trial and off-road motorcycles in Europe.
1986Honda
Acura Brand Launched
Honda launched the Acura luxury brand in the United States in 1986.
1987Pagani
Horacio Pagani Builds Lamborghini Countach Evoluzione
Engineered the world's first carbon-fiber supercar chassis at Lamborghini using composite materials.
1992Pagani
Pagani Automobili Founded in San Cesario sul Panaro
Horacio Pagani established his own atelier to engineer the supercar of his dreams.
1999Pagani
World Debut of the Pagani Zonda C12 in Geneva
Unveiled the well-known Zonda at the Geneva Motor Show, powered by a Mercedes-AMG V12 engine.
2000Honda
ASIMO Unveiled
Honda unveiled the ASIMO humanoid robot in 2000.
2008Pagani
Invention of Patented Carbo-Titanium (Carbo-Triax)
Carbo-Titanium composite, which weaves titanium with carbon fiber, debuted on the Zonda R and Zonda Cinque.
2010Pagani
Zonda R Nurburgring Lap
The track-only Zonda R lapped the Nurburgring Nordschleife in 6 minutes 47 seconds in 2010.
2011Pagani
Launch of the Pagani Huayra with Active Aerodynamics
Debuted the Huayra featuring four independent active aerodynamic flaps and gullwing doors.
2015Honda
Takahiro Hachigo becomes CEO
Takahiro Hachigo became CEO of Honda Motor Co. in 2015. Hachigo trimmed excess capacity and refocused Honda on hybrids, motorcycles and its core models, which improved profitability before the EV investment cycle began.
2015Honda
First HondaJet Delivered
Honda delivered the first HondaJet business aircraft in December 2015.
2017Pagani
Huayra Roadster Unveiled
Pagani unveiled the Huayra Roadster at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2017.
2021Honda
Toshihiro Mibe Becomes CEO
Mibe becomes CEO as Honda increases focus on electrification, software, and new mobility.
2021Pagani
Saudi PIF Becomes Minority Shareholder
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund agreed a long-term minority investment, reported at 30%; the Pagani family kept control.
2022Pagani
World Premiere of the Pagani Utopia
Unveiled the third chapter of Pagani hypercars, featuring a gated 7-speed manual AMG V12.
2023Pagani
Utopia Roadster Revealed
Open-top Utopia unveiled with the same 864 hp AMG V12 and optional manual gearbox.
2025Pagani
Turnover Reaches €181 Million
Filed accounts show 2025 turnover of about $205M (€181.3M) and net profit of ~$54.6M (€48.3M).
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.
2026Pagani
Pagani Residences Break Ground in Miami
Construction began in May 2026 on a 30-storey Pagani-branded residential tower in North Bay Village, Florida.
Acquisitions
Honda
- Astemo, Ltd.2026Undisclosed
- Keihin Corporation2020Undisclosed
- Showa Corporation2020Undisclosed
- Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd.2020Undisclosed
- Montesa1986Undisclosed
Pagani
No verified acquisitions are listed.
Questions about Honda vs Pagani
Who is the CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and Pagani Automobili?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is led by Toshihiro Mibe and Pagani Automobili is led by Horacio Pagani. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Honda Motor Co., Ltd. founded vs Pagani Automobili?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. was founded in 1948 — 44 years before Pagani Automobili, which was founded in 1992. Honda Motor Co., Ltd.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Pagani Automobili.
How many employees does Honda Motor Co., Ltd. have compared to Pagani Automobili?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. employs approximately 195,109 people, while Pagani Automobili employs approximately 255. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has the larger workforce at 195,109 employees, compared to Pagani Automobili's 255. 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 Pagani Automobili headquartered?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is headquartered in Japan and Pagani Automobili is headquartered in Italy. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and Pagani Automobili?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. was founded by Soichiro Honda, Takeo Fujisawa. Pagani Automobili was founded by Horacio Pagani.
Which company has a longer operating history — Honda Motor Co., Ltd. or Pagani Automobili?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has been operating for approximately 78 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Pagani Automobili has been in operation for around 34 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 Pagani overview