Mazda vs Nissan: Founders, CEOs and History
Mazda was founded in 1920 by Jujiro Matsuda, Kenichi Yamamoto and is led by Masahiro Moro. Nissan was founded in 1933 by Yoshisuke Aikawa, William Gorham, Masujiro Hashimoto and is led by Ivan Espinosa.
Company facts
Founders
Mazda
Jujiro Matsuda
Jujiro Matsuda founded the company (originally Toyo Cork Kogyo) in 1920 in Hiroshima. He rescued a failing artificial cork manufacturing business and aggressively pivoted it into machine tools and eventually three-wheeled autorickshaws (the Mazda-Go).
Kenichi Yamamoto
Kenichi Yamamoto is widely considered the 'father of the rotary engine.' While not the original founder, he was the absolute driving engineering force that convinced Mazda to bet the entire company's survival on the highly experimental Wankel rotary engine in…
Nissan
Yoshisuke Aikawa
Yoshisuke Aikawa founded the massive Nissan zaibatsu in the 1920s. Recognizing the absolute critical importance of the rapidly growing automotive industry, he consolidated several smaller motor companies (including DAT Motors) into Nissan Motor Co.
William Gorham
William Gorham was an American engineer who moved to Japan and played an absolutely vital role in the founding of Nissan.
Masujiro Hashimoto
Masujiro Hashimoto founded the Kwaishinsha Motor Car Works in 1911, which produced the 'DAT' car.
Rokuro Aoyama
Rokuro Aoyama was one of the three primary financial backers (alongside Den and Takeuchi) of Hashimoto's original company, providing the 'A' in the 'DAT' acronym.
CEOs and their tenures
Mazda
- Takashi Yamanouchi2008–2013
President and Chief Executive Officer
He launched the Skyactiv technology programme. Masamichi Kogai succeeded him in 2013.
Source - Akira Marumoto2018–2023
Representative Director, President and CEO
Serving as CEO from 2018 to 2023, he guided Mazda through the catastrophic semiconductor shortage, completely abandoning massive sales volume targets to focus entirely on per-unit profitability.
Source - Masahiro Moro2023–present
Representative Director, President & CEO
As CEO, he navigated the massive, systemic crisis of Mazda's extreme delay in EV development by aggressively focusing on the highly lucrative North American market to generate the cash needed for survival.
Source
Nissan
- Katsuji Kawamata1957–1973
President & Chairman
Transformed Nissan from a domestic Japanese producer into an international export leader.
Source - Carlos Ghosn1999–2017
Executive Officer & CEO
Rescued Nissan from imminent bankruptcy and built the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi global alliance.
Source - Hiroto Saikawa2017–2019
Chief Executive Officer
Hiroto Saikawa served as chief executive of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. from 2017 to 2019.
Source - Makoto Uchida2019–2025
Representative Executive Officer, President & CEO
Returned Nissan to profit after the pandemic, but stepped down in March 2025 after results collapsed in FY2024 and merger talks with Honda failed.
Source - Ivan Espinosa2025–present
President and Chief Executive Officer
Mexican-born former chief planning officer who succeeded Makoto Uchida as CEO on April 1, 2025. Launched the Re:Nissan cost and restructuring plan and led Nissan back to a quarterly operating profit in Q1 FY2026.
Source
Timeline: Mazda and Nissan side by side
1914Nissan
Creation of the DAT Car: Masujiro Hashimoto creates the DAT passenger car at Kaishinsha in Tokyo, establishing the engineering roots of Datsun and Nissan.
1920Mazda
Toyo Cork Kogyo Founded in Hiroshima
Jujiro Matsuda established artificial cork manufacturing in Hiroshima.
1931Mazda
Launch of Mazda-Go Three-Wheeler
Introduced Mazda's first motorized vehicle to support Japanese transport.
1933Nissan
Founding of Jidosha Seizo in Yokohama: Yoshisuke Aikawa establishes Jidosha Seizo Co., Ltd. in Yokohama, renamed Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. in 1934.
1945Mazda
Surviving Hiroshima & Rebuilding
Factory sheltered from the atomic bomb, serving as the city's reconstruction HQ.
1958Nissan
Mobilgas Round Australia Trial Victory: Datsun 1000 captures class honors in the 10,000-mile endurance trial, launching Nissan's international export offensive.
1966Nissan
Merger with Prince Motor Company: Nissan absorbs Prince Motor Company, acquiring top aeronautical engineering talent, royal coachbuilding prestige, and the well-known Skyline and Gloria nameplates.
1967Mazda
Commercial Launch of Rotary Cosmo Sport
Commercialized world's first dual-rotor Wankel rotary sports car.
1969Nissan
Launch of Datsun 240Z and Skyline GT-R: Nissan releases the affordable inline-six Datsun 240Z sports coupe in the US and the dual-overhead-cam Skyline 2000GT-R in Japan, shattering European performanc…
1989Mazda
World Premiere of MX-5 Miata
Unveiled the lightweight roadster that defined modern sports car joy.
1989Nissan
Infiniti Luxury Division & R32 GT-R Debut: Nissan launches Infiniti in North America with the Q45 flagship sedan and revives the R32 Skyline GT-R featuring ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive.
1991Mazda
Historic Victory at 24 Hours of Le Mans
Mazda 787B became the first Japanese car to win Le Mans with rotary power.
1999Nissan
Formation of Renault-Nissan Alliance: Facing $20B in corporate debt, Nissan forms an equity alliance with Renault S.A.; Carlos Ghosn launches the Nissan Revival Plan to rescue the company.
2010Nissan
Commercialization of 100% Electric Nissan Leaf: Nissan releases the Leaf, creating the modern mass-market electric vehicle segment and selling over 650,000 units globally.
2016Nissan
Acquisition of 34% Controlling Stake in Mitsubishi Motors: Nissan invests $2.2 billion to purchase a controlling 34% stake in Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, creating the three-way Alliance.
2018Mazda
Akira Marumoto becomes CEO
Akira Marumoto became CEO of Mazda Motor in 2018. Led Mazda from 2018 until Masahiro Moro succeeded him in June 2023.
2020Nissan
Unveiling of Nissan NEXT Turnaround Plan: then-CEO Makoto Uchida unveils Nissan NEXT, rationalizing global capacity by 20% and focusing core investments on e-POWER and EVs.
2021Mazda
Opening of Mazda Toyota Alabama Plant
Inaugurated $2.3B joint venture factory assembling the CX-50.
2023Mazda
Masahiro Moro becomes CEO
Masahiro Moro became CEO of Mazda Motor in 2023. Previously ran Mazda North American Operations; became President and CEO in June 2023 and is steering Mazda through US tariffs, the new CX-5 launch and a slower EV timeline.
2024Nissan
Historic EV Collaboration with Honda: Nissan and Honda sign a strategic partnership to co-develop electric vehicle drive platforms, standardized core components, and automotive software OS.
2025Nissan
Honda merger talks end in February; Ivan Espinosa becomes CEO on April 1; Re:Nissan recovery plan announced in May.
2026Mazda
US Tariffs Cut Operating Income to ¥51.6 Billion
FY March 2026 net sales were ~$33 billion (¥4.92 trillion); operating income fell 72% as US tariffs hit Japan- and Mexico-built exports.
2026Nissan
FY2025 results show ~$80.4 billion (¥12.0 trillion) revenue and a ~$3.57 billion (¥533.1 billion) net loss; Q1 FY2026 operating profit returns to ~$522 million (¥77.9 billion).
Acquisitions
Mazda
No verified acquisitions are listed.
Nissan
- Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (34% Controlling Stake)2016$2.2B
- Mitsubishi Motors2016Undisclosed
- Prince Motor Company1966Undisclosed
Questions about Mazda vs Nissan
Who is the CEO of Mazda Motor Corporation and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.?
Mazda Motor Corporation is led by Masahiro Moro and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. is led by Ivan Espinosa. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Mazda Motor Corporation founded vs Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.?
Mazda Motor Corporation was founded in 1920 — 13 years before Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., which was founded in 1933. Mazda Motor Corporation's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Nissan Motor Co., Ltd..
How many employees does Mazda Motor Corporation have compared to Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.?
Mazda Motor Corporation employs approximately 48,000 people, while Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. employs approximately 120,079. Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. has the larger workforce at 120,079 employees, compared to Mazda Motor Corporation's 48,000. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Mazda Motor Corporation and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. headquartered?
Both Mazda Motor Corporation and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. are headquartered in Japan. Their local rules and tax obligations may still differ.
Who founded Mazda Motor Corporation and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.?
Mazda Motor Corporation was founded by Jujiro Matsuda, Kenichi Yamamoto. Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. was founded by Yoshisuke Aikawa, William Gorham, Masujiro Hashimoto, Rokuro Aoyama.
Which company has a longer operating history — Mazda Motor Corporation or Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.?
Mazda Motor Corporation has been operating for approximately 106 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. has been in operation for around 93 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 Mazda vs Nissan overview