Honda vs VinFast: Founders, CEOs and History
Honda was founded in 1948 by Soichiro Honda, Takeo Fujisawa and is led by Toshihiro Mibe. VinFast was founded in 2017 by Pham Nhat Vuong and is led by Pham Nhat Quan Anh.
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.
VinFast
Pham Nhat Vuong
Pham Nhat Vuong is the founder and chairman of Vingroup and is ranked by Forbes as Vietnam's richest person.
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
VinFast
- Le Thi Thu Thuy2021–2026
Global CEO; later Chairwoman
As Global CEO, she acts as the absolute driving operational force attempting to brutally pivot the Vietnamese conglomerate into a massive global electric vehicle powerhouse against intense Western skepticism.
Source - Pham Nhat Vuong2024–2026
Founder; Global Chief Executive Officer
Founded VinFast in 2017 as Vingroup chairman and took the CEO role himself in January 2024, leading the VF 3 launch and the opening of plants in Ha Tinh, India and Indonesia before handing the post to his son in September 2026.
Source - Pham Nhat Quan Anh2026–present
Global Chief Executive Officer
Appointed chairman of VinFast's board effective May 23, 2026, replacing Le Thi Thu Thuy, then named global CEO in September 2026, succeeding his father, founder Pham Nhat Vuong. He also became chairman and CEO of VinFast Vietnam.
Source
Timeline: Honda and VinFast 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.
2000Honda
ASIMO Unveiled
Honda unveiled the ASIMO humanoid robot in 2000.
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.
2017VinFast
VinFast founded
Broke ground on the Hai Phong car plant in September 2017.
2018VinFast
Paris Motor Show debut
Showed the Pininfarina-styled Lux A2.0 and Lux SA2.0.
2018VinFast
Acquired General Motors Vietnam
VinFast acquired General Motors Vietnam.
2019VinFast
Hai Phong plant opens
Began customer deliveries in Vietnam.
2020VinFast
Acquired Lang Lang Proving Ground (Australia)
VinFast acquired Lang Lang Proving Ground (Australia).
2021Honda
Toshihiro Mibe Becomes CEO
Mibe becomes CEO as Honda increases focus on electrification, software, and new mobility.
2021VinFast
First Electric Car Delivered
VinFast began delivering its first electric car, the VF e34, in Vietnam in December 2021.
2022VinFast
EVs only
Ended petrol car production and shipped its first VF 8s to the US.
2023VinFast
Nasdaq listing (VFS)
Listed on August 15, 2023, after merging with Black Spade Acquisition Co.
2023VinFast
North Carolina Plant Groundbreaking
VinFast broke ground on a factory in Chatham County, North Carolina, in July 2023.
2024VinFast
Founder named CEO
Pham Nhat Vuong became CEO in January; the VF 3 launched and North Carolina production was pushed to 2028.
2025VinFast
Revenue reaches ~$3.47 billion (VND 90.2 trillion)
Revenue of ~$3.47 billion (VND 90.2 trillion) on 196,919 EV deliveries; plants opened in Ha Tinh, India and Indonesia.
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.
2026VinFast
Pham Nhat Quan Anh becomes CEO
Became chairman in May and global CEO in September; North Carolina sued over the delayed plant in May.
Acquisitions
Honda
- Astemo, Ltd.2026Undisclosed
- Keihin Corporation2020Undisclosed
- Showa Corporation2020Undisclosed
- Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd.2020Undisclosed
- Montesa1986Undisclosed
VinFast
- Ngoc Hoi2026Undisclosed
- Future Investment Research and Development JSC2026Undisclosed
- VinES Energy Solutions2023Undisclosed
- Black Spade Acquisition Co.2023Undisclosed
- Lang Lang Proving Ground (Australia)2020Undisclosed
- General Motors Vietnam2018Undisclosed
Questions about Honda vs VinFast
Who is the CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and VinFast?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is led by Toshihiro Mibe and VinFast is led by Pham Nhat Quan Anh. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Honda Motor Co., Ltd. founded vs VinFast?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. was founded in 1948 — 69 years before VinFast, which was founded in 2017. Honda Motor Co., Ltd.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger VinFast.
How many employees does Honda Motor Co., Ltd. have compared to VinFast?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. employs approximately 195,109 people. A verified employee count for VinFast is not currently available.
Where are Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and VinFast headquartered?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is headquartered in Japan and VinFast is headquartered in Vietnam. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and VinFast?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. was founded by Soichiro Honda, Takeo Fujisawa. VinFast was founded by Pham Nhat Vuong.
Which company has a longer operating history — Honda Motor Co., Ltd. or VinFast?
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has been operating for approximately 78 years, making it the more established of the two companies. VinFast has been in operation for around 9 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 VinFast overview