Honda vs TVS Motor: Founders, CEOs and History
Honda was founded in 1948 by Soichiro Honda, Takeo Fujisawa and is led by Toshihiro Mibe. TVS Motor was founded in 1978 by T. V. Sundram Iyengar, Venu Srinivasan and is led by K. N. Radhakrishnan.
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.
TVS Motor
T. V. Sundram Iyengar
T. V. Sundram Iyengar (1877-1955) was a lawyer-turned-entrepreneur from Tamil Nadu who founded T.V. Sundram Iyengar & Sons in Madurai in 1911.
Venu Srinivasan
Venu Srinivasan, grandson of T. V. Sundram Iyengar, led the TVS two-wheeler business for decades.
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
TVS Motor
- K.N. Radhakrishnan2008–present
Director & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Ensured consistent double-digit operating EBITDA margins through disciplined procurement, driving the commercial execution behind the Jupiter, Apache, and iQube sales surges.
Source - Sudarshan Venu2022–present
Chairman & Managing Director
Under his leadership TVS sold a record 5.89 million vehicles in FY2026 and grew consolidated revenue to ~$6.5 billion (₹56,028 crore).
Source
Timeline: Honda and TVS Motor side by side
1911TVS Motor
T.V. Sundaram Iyengar Founds TVS Group: Thirukurungudi Vengaram Sundaram Iyengar founds T.V.
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.
1978TVS Motor
Establishment of TVS Motor Plant in Hosur: TVS establishes its two-wheeler manufacturing plant in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, producing the well-known TVS 50 2-stroke moped, mobilizing millions of Indian rural…
1982TVS Motor
TVS Suzuki Joint Venture Established: Partners with Japan's Suzuki Motor Corporation to manufacture modern 100cc Japanese motorcycles in India (TVS-Suzuki AX100 and Samurai).
2001TVS Motor
Amicable Separation from Suzuki & TVS Victor Launch: TVS and Suzuki amicably buy out joint venture shares; TVS launches the 100% indigenously developed TVS Victor 110cc commuter motorcycle, which beco…
2002TVS Motor
World's First Two-Wheeler Maker to Win the Deming Prize: TVS Motor Company is awarded the Deming Application Prize by the Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers (JUSE) for total quality management…
2006TVS Motor
Launch of the TVS Apache Series: Introduces the TVS Apache performance motorcycle, originating from TVS Racing's factory track lineage, which grows into a 5-million-rider global sports franchise.
2013TVS Motor
BMW Motorrad Strategic Partnership: Signs long-term cooperation agreement with BMW Motorrad to co-develop and manufacture sub-500cc motorcycles (BMW G 310 R, GS, and TVS Apache RR 310) in Hosur.
2020TVS Motor
Acquisition of Norton Motorcycles (UK): Acquires historic British luxury superbike brand Norton Motorcycles for 16 million, building a modern factory in Solihull, England.
2021Honda
Toshihiro Mibe Becomes CEO
Mibe becomes CEO as Honda increases focus on electrification, software, and new mobility.
2024TVS Motor
Surpassing 300,000 TVS iQube EV Deliveries: TVS iQube crosses 300,000 cumulative electric scooter sales, establishing TVS as India's top 2 electric two-wheeler manufacturer alongside Ola Electric.
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
TVS Motor
- Swiss E-Mobility Group (SEMG) & EGO Movement2022Undisclosed
- Norton Motorcycles (UK) Limited2020Undisclosed
Questions about Honda vs TVS Motor
Who is the CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and TVS Motor Company?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is led by Toshihiro Mibe and TVS Motor Company is led by K. N. Radhakrishnan. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Honda Motor Co., Ltd. founded vs TVS Motor Company?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. was founded in 1948 — 30 years before TVS Motor Company, which was founded in 1978. Honda Motor Co., Ltd.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger TVS Motor Company.
How many employees does Honda Motor Co., Ltd. have compared to TVS Motor Company?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. employs approximately 195,109 people, while TVS Motor Company employs approximately 5,500. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has the larger workforce at 195,109 employees, compared to TVS Motor Company's 5,500. 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 TVS Motor Company headquartered?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is headquartered in Japan and TVS Motor Company is headquartered in India. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and TVS Motor Company?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. was founded by Soichiro Honda, Takeo Fujisawa. TVS Motor Company was founded by T. V. Sundram Iyengar, Venu Srinivasan.
Which company has a longer operating history — Honda Motor Co., Ltd. or TVS Motor Company?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has been operating for approximately 78 years, making it the more established of the two companies. TVS Motor Company has been in operation for around 48 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 TVS Motor overview