Honda vs Peugeot: Founders, CEOs and History
Honda was founded in 1948 by Soichiro Honda, Takeo Fujisawa and is led by Toshihiro Mibe. Peugeot was founded in 1810 by Armand Peugeot and is led by Alain Favey.
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.
Peugeot
Armand Peugeot
Armand Peugeot (1849-1915) was the member of the Peugeot industrial family who took the business into motor vehicles.
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
Peugeot
- Maxime Picat2012–2016
Chief Executive Officer, Peugeot
He moved the brand upmarket with the 308 and 2008. Jean-Philippe Imparato succeeded him in 2016.
Source - Jean-Philippe Imparato2016–2021
Chief Executive Officer, Peugeot
He launched the 3008 and 208 generations and their electric versions. He moved to Alfa Romeo in 2021 and Linda Jackson succeeded him.
Source - Linda Jackson2021–2025
Global Chief Executive Officer, Peugeot
The Peugeot 208 was Europe's best-selling car in 2022 during her tenure.
Source - Alain Favey2025–present
Chief Executive Officer, Peugeot
Former Europcar Mobility Group CEO; succeeded Linda Jackson on February 3, 2025.
Source
Timeline: Honda and Peugeot side by side
1810Peugeot
Peugeot Brothers Found Steel Foundry in Sous-Cratet: Jean-Pierre and Jean-Frédéric Peugeot convert a grain mill into a steel foundry, manufacturing saw blades, watch springs, and coffee grinders with…
1889Peugeot
First Automobile Produced by Armand Peugeot: Armand Peugeot exhibits the Serpollet-Peugeot Type 1 steam tricycle at the 1889 Paris Exposition, transitioning the company permanently to motorized transp…
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.
1976Peugeot
Acquisition of Citroën & Formation of PSA Group: Peugeot takes over Citroën to form PSA Peugeot Citroën, creating the unified industrial champion of the French automotive industry.
1978Peugeot
Chrysler Europe Acquired
PSA bought the European operations of Chrysler in 1978.
1983Peugeot
Launch of the Legendary Peugeot 205 & 205 GTI: Releases the 205 supermini, a runaway design and commercial triumph that saves Peugeot from bankruptcy and becomes a hot-hatch rallying legend.
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.
1998Peugeot
Debut of the Peugeot 206: Launches the 206 hatchback, which sells over 10 million units to become the best-selling French automobile of all time.
2000Honda
ASIMO Unveiled
Honda unveiled the ASIMO humanoid robot in 2000.
2012Peugeot
Invention of the Peugeot i-Cockpit: Debuts the influential i-Cockpit interior architecture on the 208, featuring a compact sports steering wheel, elevated head-up instrumentation, and piano toggle key…
2014Peugeot
Dongfeng and French State Take Stakes
Dongfeng Motor and the French state each took a 14 percent stake in PSA in 2014 in a rescue recapitalisation.
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.
2017Peugeot
Peugeot 3008 Wins European Car of the Year: The second-generation 3008 SUV wins European Car of the Year 2017, igniting an upscale design renaissance across all Peugeot model lines.
2021Honda
Toshihiro Mibe Becomes CEO
Mibe becomes CEO as Honda increases focus on electrification, software, and new mobility.
2021Peugeot
Merger into Stellantis N.V.: PSA Group merges with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) to create Stellantis N.V., establishing Peugeot as a central core brand in a global 14-brand conglomerate.
2021Peugeot
Linda Jackson becomes CEO
Linda Jackson became CEO of Peugeot in 2021. The Peugeot 208 was Europe's best-selling car in 2022 during her tenure.
2025Peugeot
Alain Favey becomes CEO
Alain Favey became CEO of Peugeot in 2025. Former Europcar Mobility Group CEO; succeeded Linda Jackson on February 3, 2025.
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.
Acquisitions
Honda
- Astemo, Ltd.2026Undisclosed
- Keihin Corporation2020Undisclosed
- Showa Corporation2020Undisclosed
- Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd.2020Undisclosed
- Montesa1986Undisclosed
Peugeot
- Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (50:50 merger)2021Undisclosed
- Opel and Vauxhall Motors2017$2.3B
- Citroën (Formation of PSA Group)1976Undisclosed
Questions about Honda vs Peugeot
Who is the CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and Peugeot?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is led by Toshihiro Mibe and Peugeot is led by Alain Favey. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Honda Motor Co., Ltd. founded vs Peugeot?
Peugeot was founded in 1810 — 138 years before Honda Motor Co., Ltd., which was founded in 1948. Peugeot'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 Peugeot?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. employs approximately 195,109 people. A verified employee count for Peugeot is not currently available.
Where are Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and Peugeot headquartered?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is headquartered in Japan and Peugeot is headquartered in France. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and Peugeot?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. was founded by Soichiro Honda, Takeo Fujisawa. Peugeot was founded by Armand Peugeot.
Which company has a longer operating history — Honda Motor Co., Ltd. or Peugeot?
Peugeot has been operating for approximately 216 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 Peugeot overview