McLaren Automotive vs Toyota: Founders, CEOs and History
McLaren Automotive was founded in 2010 by Bruce McLaren, Ron Dennis and is led by Nick Collins. Toyota was founded in 1937 by Kiichiro Toyoda, Sakichi Toyoda and is led by Kenta Kon.
Company facts
McLaren Automotive
- Founded
- 2010
- Headquarters
- Woking, Surrey, England, United Kingdom
- Current CEO
- Nick Collins
Toyota
- Founded
- 1937
- Headquarters
- Toyota City, Aichi, Japan
- Current CEO
- Kenta Kon
- Employees
- 375,235
Founders
McLaren Automotive
Bruce McLaren
Bruce McLaren founded the company in 1963. As an absolutely brilliant, fiercely competitive racing driver and engineer, he built the company entirely to dominate Formula 1 and Can-Am racing.
Ron Dennis
Ron Dennis took over McLaren in 1980 and completely transformed it. He introduced the absolute game-changing carbon-fiber monocoque chassis to Formula 1.
Toyota
Kiichiro Toyoda
Kiichiro Toyoda (1894-1952) founded the Toyota Motor Corporation in 1937, spinning it out of his father's successful textile machinery business.
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
McLaren Automotive
- Michael Leiters2022–2025
Chief Executive Officer
Appointed CEO in 2022, the former Ferrari CTO is tasked with saving the company from catastrophic financial ruin by heavily expanding its lineup and securing massive recapitalization from the Bahrain sovereign wealth fund.
Source - Nick Collins2025–present
Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Group Holdings
Former Ford and JLR engineering executive and CEO of Forseven. Took charge of McLaren in 2025 when owner CYVN Holdings merged McLaren with Forseven to form McLaren Group Holdings; Michael Leiters stepped down and later joined Porsche.
Source
Toyota
- Katsuaki Watanabe2005–2009
President
Toyota became the largest carmaker in the world by sales in 2008, then reported its first operating loss in decades. Akio Toyoda succeeded him in June 2009.
Source - 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
As CFO, he managed the immense capital allocation required for Toyota's massive $35 billion commitment to fully electrify its vehicle lineup by 2030.
Source
Timeline: McLaren Automotive and Toyota side by side
1937Toyota
Toyota Motor Corporation incorporated
Toyota Motor Corporation was incorporated after Kiichiro Toyoda expanded the Toyoda family business from automatic looms into automobile manufacturing.
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.
1963McLaren Automotive
Bruce McLaren Motor Racing Founded
Bruce McLaren established the British racing team in Colnbrook, UK.
1966Toyota
Corolla launched
Toyota launched the Corolla, a compact car that became central to its mass-market export strategy.
1989Toyota
Lexus launches
Toyota launched Lexus with the LS 400, moving into premium vehicles with a quality-led strategy.
1992McLaren Automotive
Launch of the Historic McLaren F1
Gordon Murray unveiled the 240.1 mph three-seater carbon-fiber hypercar.
1997Toyota
Prius launches in Japan
Toyota launched the Prius, turning hybrid technology into a mass-produced passenger vehicle.
2008Toyota
Largest Carmaker by Sales
Toyota passed General Motors in 2008 to become the largest carmaker in the world by sales.
2009Toyota
Unintended Acceleration Recalls
Toyota recalled millions of vehicles from late 2009 over floor mats and accelerator pedals linked to unintended acceleration.
2010McLaren Automotive
McLaren Automotive Relaunched as Standalone Carmaker
Established independent road car manufacturer, unveiling the MP4-12C.
2011McLaren Automotive
MP4-12C Launched
McLaren Automotive began deliveries of the MP4-12C, its first series-production car, in 2011.
2013McLaren Automotive
Launch of the McLaren P1 Hybrid Hypercar
Pioneered the hybrid hypercar era with 903hp and Formula 1 IPAS tech.
2016Toyota
Acquired Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.
Toyota Motor acquired Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd..
2017McLaren Automotive
720S Launched
McLaren launched the 720S at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2017.
2018McLaren Automotive
Opening of the Sheffield Composites Centre
Began in-house carbon tub production at MCTC in Sheffield.
2021McLaren Automotive
Headquarters Sale and Leaseback
McLaren sold its Woking headquarters to Global Net Lease in 2021 for about 170 million pounds and leased it back.
2021Toyota
Acquired Lyft Level 5
Toyota Motor acquired Lyft Level 5 for $550 million.
2021Toyota
Acquired CARMERA
Toyota Motor acquired CARMERA.
2022McLaren Automotive
Michael Leiters Appointed CEO
Former Ferrari CTO took over as the Artura hybrid entered production.
2024McLaren Automotive
McLaren W1 Revealed
399-unit hybrid hypercar unveiled in October 2024.
2025McLaren Automotive
Acquired by CYVN Holdings
Abu Dhabi's CYVN bought McLaren Automotive from Mumtalakat and named Nick Collins CEO of McLaren Group Holdings.
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
Toyota
- Lyft Level 52021$550M
- CARMERA2021Undisclosed
- Renovo Motors2021Undisclosed
- Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.2016Undisclosed
- Toyota Auto Body2012Undisclosed
Questions about McLaren Automotive vs Toyota
Who is the CEO of McLaren Automotive and Toyota Motor Corporation?
McLaren Automotive is led by Nick Collins 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 McLaren Automotive founded vs Toyota Motor Corporation?
Toyota Motor Corporation was founded in 1937 — 73 years before McLaren Automotive, which was founded in 2010. Toyota Motor Corporation's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger McLaren Automotive.
How many employees does McLaren Automotive have compared to Toyota Motor Corporation?
Toyota Motor Corporation employs approximately 375,235 people. A verified employee count for McLaren Automotive is not currently available.
Where are McLaren Automotive and Toyota Motor Corporation headquartered?
McLaren Automotive is headquartered in United Kingdom and Toyota Motor Corporation is headquartered in Japan. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded McLaren Automotive and Toyota Motor Corporation?
McLaren Automotive was founded by Bruce McLaren, Ron Dennis. Toyota Motor Corporation was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda, Sakichi Toyoda.
Which company has a longer operating history — McLaren Automotive or Toyota Motor Corporation?
Toyota Motor Corporation has been operating for approximately 89 years, making it the more established of the two companies. McLaren Automotive has been in operation for around 16 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 McLaren Automotive vs Toyota overview