Honda vs SAIC Motor: Founders, CEOs and History
Honda was founded in 1948 by Soichiro Honda, Takeo Fujisawa and is led by Toshihiro Mibe. SAIC Motor was founded in 1955 by Chen Xianglin and is led by Jia Jianxu.
Company facts
Honda
- Founded
- 1948
- Headquarters
- Tokyo, Japan
- Current CEO
- Toshihiro Mibe
- Employees
- 195,109
SAIC Motor
- Founded
- 1955
- Headquarters
- Shanghai, China
- Current CEO
- Jia Jianxu
- Employees
- 179,797
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.
SAIC Motor
Chen Xianglin
Chen Xianglin was a senior executive of the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation in the 1990s and early 2000s, during the period when SAIC Motor was restructured and listed and the SAIC-GM joint venture was formed.
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
SAIC Motor
- Wang Xiaoqiu2024–present
Chairman of the Board
As President, he successfully managed the incredibly complex global rollout of the MG brand, making SAIC the absolute largest exporter of Chinese-made automobiles in the world.
Source - Jia Jianxu2024–present
President & Director
Appointed as President in 2024, he oversees the company's severe cost-cutting initiatives and attempts to navigate the massive, impending European tariffs on Chinese EVs.
Source
Timeline: Honda and SAIC Motor side by side
1948Honda
Honda Motor Founded
Soichiro Honda establishes Honda Motor Co., Ltd. in Japan.
1955SAIC Motor
Shanghai auto industry roots
Shanghai consolidates auto repair and parts workshops, the base from which SAIC later grew.
1958SAIC Motor
Phoenix sedan built
The Shanghai Automobile Assembly Plant builds the Phoenix, Shanghai's first passenger car.
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.
1984SAIC Motor
SAIC Volkswagen joint venture signed
China's first car joint venture is signed to build the Volkswagen Santana in Shanghai.
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.
1997SAIC Motor
SAIC General Motors formed
SAIC and GM set up a 50:50 joint venture in Shanghai to build Buick cars.
2000Honda
ASIMO Unveiled
Honda unveiled the ASIMO humanoid robot in 2000.
2004SAIC Motor
SsangYong Motor Stake
SAIC bought a 48.9 percent stake in the South Korean carmaker SsangYong Motor in 2004 for about $500 million.
2006SAIC Motor
Roewe Brand Launched
SAIC launched the Roewe brand in 2006, using technology it had bought from MG Rover.
2007SAIC Motor
Merger with Nanjing Automobile brings MG
SAIC takes over Nanjing Automobile, uniting MG and Rover-derived assets under one roof.
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.
2018SAIC Motor
Sales Pass 7 Million Vehicles
SAIC sold more than 7 million vehicles in 2018, its highest annual total.
2020SAIC Motor
IM Motors launched with Alibaba
SAIC, Alibaba and Zhangjiang Hi-Tech set up premium EV brand IM Motors.
2021Honda
Toshihiro Mibe Becomes CEO
Mibe becomes CEO as Honda increases focus on electrification, software, and new mobility.
2024SAIC Motor
Leadership change; BYD takes top spot
Wang Xiaoqiu becomes chairman and Jia Jianxu president, the year BYD overtakes SAIC as China's top-selling carmaker.
2025SAIC Motor
Profit rebound and 4.5 million sales
Revenue rises 4.6% to ~$91.2 billion (CN¥656.24 billion), net profit recovers to ~$1.41 billion (CN¥10.11 billion), and wholesale sales reach 4.507 million.
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
SAIC Motor
- KG Mobility2026Undisclosed
- Wuhan Kotei Informatics2017$22M
- Nanjing Automobile (incl. MG brand)2007Undisclosed
- Nanjing Automobile2007Undisclosed
- Rover Group Technology2005Undisclosed
- SsangYong Motor (48.9% stake)2004$500M
Questions about Honda vs SAIC Motor
Who is the CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and SAIC Motor?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is led by Toshihiro Mibe and SAIC Motor is led by Jia Jianxu. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Honda Motor Co., Ltd. founded vs SAIC Motor?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. was founded in 1948 — 7 years before SAIC Motor, which was founded in 1955. Honda Motor Co., Ltd.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger SAIC Motor.
How many employees does Honda Motor Co., Ltd. have compared to SAIC Motor?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. employs approximately 195,109 people, while SAIC Motor employs approximately 179,797. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has the larger workforce at 195,109 employees, compared to SAIC Motor's 179,797. 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 SAIC Motor headquartered?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is headquartered in Japan and SAIC Motor is headquartered in China. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and SAIC Motor?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. was founded by Soichiro Honda, Takeo Fujisawa. SAIC Motor was founded by Chen Xianglin.
Which company has a longer operating history — Honda Motor Co., Ltd. or SAIC Motor?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has been operating for approximately 78 years, making it the more established of the two companies. SAIC Motor has been in operation for around 71 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 SAIC Motor overview