Mazda vs Toyota: Founders, CEOs and History
Mazda was founded in 1920 by Jujiro Matsuda, Kenichi Yamamoto and is led by Masahiro Moro. Toyota was founded in 1937 by Kiichiro Toyoda, Sakichi Toyoda and is led by Kenta Kon.
Company facts
Founders
Mazda
Jujiro Matsuda
Jujiro Matsuda was a highly brilliant Japanese industrialist, fiercely resilient mechanical engineer, and the profoundly influential founding patriarch fundamentally responsible for architecting the massive Mazda Motor Corporation.
Kenichi Yamamoto
Kenichi Yamamoto is an absolutely legendary Japanese automotive engineer and the profoundly influential 'father of the rotary engine' fundamentally responsible for establishing the massively iconic technical identity of the Mazda Motor Corporation.
Toyota
Kiichiro Toyoda
Kiichiro Toyoda was an absolutely legendary Japanese mechanical engineer, fiercely visionary industrial pioneer, and the profoundly influential founding patriarch fundamentally responsible for architecting the massively dominant Toyota Motor Corporation.
Sakichi Toyoda
Sakichi Toyoda was not the founder of Toyota Motor Corporation but his inventions and philosophy created the foundation on which it was built. His loom patents generated the capital Kiichiro needed to experiment with automobiles.
CEOs and their tenures
Mazda
- Akira Marumoto2018–2023
Representative Director, President and CEO
Led Mazda from 2018 until Masahiro Moro succeeded him in June 2023.
Source - Masahiro Moro2023–present
Representative Director, President & CEO
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.
Source
Toyota
- Akio Toyoda2009–2023
President and Chief Executive Officer (now Chairman)
Akio Toyoda took leadership during one of Toyota's hardest modern periods, including the global financial crisis and the unintended acceleration recall crisis.
Source - Koji Sato2023–2026
President and Chief Executive Officer (now Vice Chairman)
Koji Sato inherited a profitable but scrutinized Toyota.
Source - Kenta Kon2026–present
President and Chief Executive Officer
Toyota's CFO from April 2020; became President and CEO on April 1, 2026, when Koji Sato moved to vice chairman and chief industry officer.
Source
Timeline: Mazda and Toyota side by side
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.
1937Toyota
Toyota Motor Corporation incorporated
Toyota Motor Corporation was incorporated after Kiichiro Toyoda expanded the Toyoda family business from automatic looms into automobile manufacturing.
1945Mazda
Surviving Hiroshima & Rebuilding
Factory sheltered from the atomic bomb, serving as the city's reconstruction HQ.
1955Toyota
Toyopet Crown launched
The Toyopet Crown gave Toyota a postwar passenger-car platform and later became its first passenger car exported to the United States.
1966Toyota
Corolla launched
Toyota launched the Corolla, a compact car that became central to its mass-market export strategy.
1967Mazda
Commercial Launch of Rotary Cosmo Sport
Commercialized world's first dual-rotor Wankel rotary sports car.
1989Mazda
World Premiere of MX-5 Miata
Unveiled the lightweight roadster that defined modern sports car joy.
1989Toyota
Lexus launches
Toyota launched Lexus with the LS 400, moving into premium vehicles with a quality-led strategy.
1991Mazda
Historic Victory at 24 Hours of Le Mans
Mazda 787B became the first Japanese car to win Le Mans with rotary power.
1997Toyota
Prius launches in Japan
Toyota launched the Prius, turning hybrid technology into a mass-produced passenger vehicle.
2021Mazda
Opening of Mazda Toyota Alabama Plant
Inaugurated $2.3B joint venture factory assembling the CX-50.
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.
2026Toyota
Kenta Kon becomes president and CEO
Kenta Kon became president and CEO on April 1, 2026, while Koji Sato moved to vice chairman and chief industry officer.
2026Toyota
FY2026 sales revenues reach ~$340B (JPY 50.685T)
Toyota reported FY2026 sales revenues of ~$340 billion (JPY 50,684.952 billion) and net income attributable to Toyota Motor Corporation of ~$25.8 billion (JPY 3,848.098 billion).
Acquisitions
Mazda
No verified acquisitions are listed.
Toyota
- Lyft Level 52021$550M
- CARMERA2021Undisclosed
- Renovo Motors2021Undisclosed
- Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.2016Undisclosed
- Toyota Auto Body2012Undisclosed
Questions about Mazda vs Toyota
Who is the CEO of Mazda Motor Corporation and Toyota Motor Corporation?
Mazda Motor Corporation is led by Masahiro Moro and Toyota Motor Corporation is led by Kenta Kon. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Mazda Motor Corporation founded vs Toyota Motor Corporation?
Mazda Motor Corporation was founded in 1920 — 17 years before Toyota Motor Corporation, which was founded in 1937. Mazda Motor Corporation's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Toyota Motor Corporation.
How many employees does Mazda Motor Corporation have compared to Toyota Motor Corporation?
Mazda Motor Corporation employs approximately 48,000 people, while Toyota Motor Corporation employs approximately 375,235. Toyota Motor Corporation has the larger workforce at 375,235 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 Toyota Motor Corporation headquartered?
Both Mazda Motor Corporation and Toyota Motor Corporation are headquartered in Japan, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded Mazda Motor Corporation and Toyota Motor Corporation?
Mazda Motor Corporation was founded by Jujiro Matsuda, Kenichi Yamamoto. Toyota Motor Corporation was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda, Sakichi Toyoda.
Which company has a longer operating history — Mazda Motor Corporation or Toyota Motor Corporation?
Mazda Motor Corporation has been operating for approximately 106 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Toyota Motor Corporation has been in operation for around 89 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 Toyota overview