Honda vs PROTON: Founders, CEOs and History
Honda was founded in 1948 by Soichiro Honda, Takeo Fujisawa and is led by Toshihiro Mibe. PROTON was founded in 1983 by Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and is led by Dr. Li Chunrong.
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.
PROTON
Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad
Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad launched the National Car Project in 1983 as part of his heavy-industry policy, partnering state-owned HICOM with Mitsubishi to create Proton.
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
PROTON
- Kenji Iwabuchi1988–1993
Managing Director
Serving as Managing Director in the late 1980s, the Mitsubishi executive established the foundational manufacturing processes that allowed Proton to exist.
Source - Dr. Li Chunrong2017–present
Chief Executive Officer
As the first-ever non-Malaysian CEO of Proton, the highly experienced Geely executive absolutely transformed the severely struggling national automaker into a highly profitable, modern enterprise.
Source - Chen Limin2017–present
Chief Financial Officer
As a senior Geely appointee on the executive board, he ensures Proton strictly aligns with Geely's global strategic ambitions in Southeast Asia.
Source - Zhang Qiang2017–present
CEO, PRO-NET (e.MAS)
As a key executive in the post-Geely era, he overhauled the entire sales and marketing strategy, successfully relaunching Proton as a technologically advanced brand in Malaysia.
Source - Dato' Ir. Abdul Rashid Musa2025–present
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Serving as CEO of Proton Edar (the sales arm), he attempted to maintain massive domestic brand loyalty while the company underwent a deeply controversial foreign acquisition.
Source
Timeline: Honda and PROTON 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.
1983PROTON
Proton founded as Malaysia's National Car Project
Incorporated on 7 May 1983 by HICOM with Mitsubishi as technology partner.
1985PROTON
First Proton Saga launched
The Mitsubishi-based Saga began production in Shah Alam.
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.
1988PROTON
Kenji Iwabuchi becomes managing director
Kenji Iwabuchi became managing director of PROTON Holdings Berhad in 1988. Chief executive of PROTON Holdings Berhad from 1988 to 1993.
1996PROTON
Majority stake in Lotus acquired
Proton bought control of British sports-car maker Lotus.
2000Honda
ASIMO Unveiled
Honda unveiled the ASIMO humanoid robot in 2000.
2007PROTON
Persona Launched
Proton launched the Persona saloon in 2007.
2012PROTON
DRB-HICOM takes Proton private
DRB-HICOM bought Khazanah Nasional's stake and delisted Proton.
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.
2017PROTON
Geely buys 49.9%
Geely acquired 49.9% of Proton; Dr. Li Chunrong became CEO in October 2017.
2018PROTON
Proton X70 launched
The first Geely-based Proton SUV started the brand's sales recovery.
2021Honda
Toshihiro Mibe Becomes CEO
Mibe becomes CEO as Honda increases focus on electrification, software, and new mobility.
2025PROTON
Production consolidated at Tanjong Malim; first EV plant opens
Malaysia's first dedicated EV assembly plant opened in September 2025 and Shah Alam production ended on 30 September.
2025PROTON
Dato' Ir. Abdul Rashid Musa becomes CEO
Dato' Ir. Abdul Rashid Musa became CEO of PROTON Holdings Berhad in 2025. Rejoined Proton as Deputy CEO from 1 November 2025, reporting to Dr.
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.
2026PROTON
Best domestic month in company history
August 2026 group sales reached 22,632 units, lifting January-August sales to 141,421 (+40.2%).
Acquisitions
Honda
- Astemo, Ltd.2026Undisclosed
- Keihin Corporation2020Undisclosed
- Showa Corporation2020Undisclosed
- Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd.2020Undisclosed
- Montesa1986Undisclosed
PROTON
- Standard Notes2024Undisclosed
- SimpleLogin2022Undisclosed
- MV Agusta2004Undisclosed
- Lotus Group1996Undisclosed
Questions about Honda vs PROTON
Who is the CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and PROTON Holdings Berhad?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is led by Toshihiro Mibe and PROTON Holdings Berhad is led by Dr. Li Chunrong. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Honda Motor Co., Ltd. founded vs PROTON Holdings Berhad?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. was founded in 1948 — 35 years before PROTON Holdings Berhad, which was founded in 1983. Honda Motor Co., Ltd.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger PROTON Holdings Berhad.
How many employees does Honda Motor Co., Ltd. have compared to PROTON Holdings Berhad?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. employs approximately 195,109 people. A verified employee count for PROTON Holdings Berhad is not currently available.
Where are Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and PROTON Holdings Berhad headquartered?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is headquartered in Japan and PROTON Holdings Berhad is headquartered in Malaysia. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and PROTON Holdings Berhad?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. was founded by Soichiro Honda, Takeo Fujisawa. PROTON Holdings Berhad was founded by Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.
Which company has a longer operating history — Honda Motor Co., Ltd. or PROTON Holdings Berhad?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has been operating for approximately 78 years, making it the more established of the two companies. PROTON Holdings Berhad has been in operation for around 43 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 PROTON overview