Mazda vs TVS Motor: Founders, CEOs and History
Mazda was founded in 1920 by Jujiro Matsuda, Kenichi Yamamoto and is led by Masahiro Moro. TVS Motor was founded in 1978 by T. V. Sundram Iyengar, Venu Srinivasan and is led by K. N. Radhakrishnan.
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…
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
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
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: Mazda and TVS Motor side by side
1911TVS Motor
T.V. Sundaram Iyengar Founds TVS Group: Thirukurungudi Vengaram Sundaram Iyengar founds T.V.
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.
1945Mazda
Surviving Hiroshima & Rebuilding
Factory sheltered from the atomic bomb, serving as the city's reconstruction HQ.
1967Mazda
Commercial Launch of Rotary Cosmo Sport
Commercialized world's first dual-rotor Wankel rotary sports car.
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…
1980TVS Motor
TVS 50 Moped Launched
The TVS 50, a two-seater moped, was launched in 1980.
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).
1989Mazda
World Premiere of MX-5 Miata
Unveiled the lightweight roadster that defined modern sports car joy.
1991Mazda
Historic Victory at 24 Hours of Le Mans
Mazda 787B became the first Japanese car to win Le Mans with rotary power.
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.
2013TVS Motor
Jupiter Scooter Launched
TVS launched the Jupiter scooter in 2013.
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.
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.
2021Mazda
Opening of Mazda Toyota Alabama Plant
Inaugurated $2.3B joint venture factory assembling the CX-50.
2022TVS Motor
Sudarshan Venu becomes managing director
Sudarshan Venu became managing director of TVS Motor in 2022. Under his leadership TVS sold a record 5.89 million vehicles in FY2026 and grew consolidated revenue to ~$6.5 billion (₹56,028 crore).
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.
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.
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.
Acquisitions
Mazda
No verified acquisitions are listed.
TVS Motor
- Engines Engineering2025Undisclosed
- DriveX2024Undisclosed
- Swiss E-Mobility Group (SEMG) & EGO Movement2022Undisclosed
- Swiss E-Mobility Group2022Undisclosed
- EGO Movement2021Undisclosed
- Norton Motorcycles (UK) Limited2020Undisclosed
Questions about Mazda vs TVS Motor
Who is the CEO of Mazda Motor Corporation and TVS Motor Company?
Mazda Motor Corporation is led by Masahiro Moro 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 Mazda Motor Corporation founded vs TVS Motor Company?
Mazda Motor Corporation was founded in 1920 — 58 years before TVS Motor Company, which was founded in 1978. Mazda Motor Corporation'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 Mazda Motor Corporation have compared to TVS Motor Company?
Mazda Motor Corporation employs approximately 48,000 people, while TVS Motor Company employs approximately 5,500. Mazda Motor Corporation has the larger workforce at 48,000 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 Mazda Motor Corporation and TVS Motor Company headquartered?
Mazda Motor Corporation 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 Mazda Motor Corporation and TVS Motor Company?
Mazda Motor Corporation was founded by Jujiro Matsuda, Kenichi Yamamoto. TVS Motor Company was founded by T. V. Sundram Iyengar, Venu Srinivasan.
Which company has a longer operating history — Mazda Motor Corporation or TVS Motor Company?
Mazda Motor Corporation has been operating for approximately 106 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 Mazda vs TVS Motor overview