Nissan vs SAIC Motor: Founders, CEOs and History
Nissan was founded in 1933 by Yoshisuke Aikawa, William Gorham, Masujiro Hashimoto and is led by Ivan Espinosa. SAIC Motor was founded in 1955 by Chen Xianglin and is led by Jia Jianxu.
Company facts
Nissan
- Founded
- 1933
- Headquarters
- Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
- Current CEO
- Ivan Espinosa
- Employees
- 120,079
SAIC Motor
- Founded
- 1955
- Headquarters
- Shanghai, China
- Current CEO
- Jia Jianxu
- Employees
- 179,797
Founders
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.
SAIC Motor
Chen Xianglin
Chen Xianglin was a senior executive of the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation in the 1990s and early 2000s, during the period when SAIC Motor was restructured and listed and the SAIC-GM joint venture was formed.
CEOs and their tenures
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
SAIC Motor
- Wang Xiaoqiu2024–present
Chairman of the Board
As President, he successfully managed the incredibly complex global rollout of the MG brand, making SAIC the absolute largest exporter of Chinese-made automobiles in the world.
Source - Jia Jianxu2024–present
President & Director
Appointed as President in 2024, he oversees the company's severe cost-cutting initiatives and attempts to navigate the massive, impending European tariffs on Chinese EVs.
Source
Timeline: Nissan and SAIC Motor 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.
1933Nissan
Founding of Jidosha Seizo in Yokohama: Yoshisuke Aikawa establishes Jidosha Seizo Co., Ltd. in Yokohama, renamed Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. in 1934.
1955SAIC Motor
Shanghai auto industry roots
Shanghai consolidates auto repair and parts workshops, the base from which SAIC later grew.
1958Nissan
Mobilgas Round Australia Trial Victory: Datsun 1000 captures class honors in the 10,000-mile endurance trial, launching Nissan's international export offensive.
1958SAIC Motor
Phoenix sedan built
The Shanghai Automobile Assembly Plant builds the Phoenix, Shanghai's first passenger car.
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.
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…
1984SAIC Motor
SAIC Volkswagen joint venture signed
China's first car joint venture is signed to build the Volkswagen Santana in Shanghai.
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.
1997SAIC Motor
SAIC General Motors formed
SAIC and GM set up a 50:50 joint venture in Shanghai to build Buick cars.
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.
2004SAIC Motor
SsangYong Motor Stake
SAIC bought a 48.9 percent stake in the South Korean carmaker SsangYong Motor in 2004 for about $500 million.
2006SAIC Motor
Roewe Brand Launched
SAIC launched the Roewe brand in 2006, using technology it had bought from MG Rover.
2007SAIC Motor
Merger with Nanjing Automobile brings MG
SAIC takes over Nanjing Automobile, uniting MG and Rover-derived assets under one roof.
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.
2018SAIC Motor
Sales Pass 7 Million Vehicles
SAIC sold more than 7 million vehicles in 2018, its highest annual total.
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.
2020SAIC Motor
IM Motors launched with Alibaba
SAIC, Alibaba and Zhangjiang Hi-Tech set up premium EV brand IM Motors.
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.
2024SAIC Motor
Leadership change; BYD takes top spot
Wang Xiaoqiu becomes chairman and Jia Jianxu president, the year BYD overtakes SAIC as China's top-selling carmaker.
2025Nissan
Honda merger talks end in February; Ivan Espinosa becomes CEO on April 1; Re:Nissan recovery plan announced in May.
2025SAIC Motor
Profit rebound and 4.5 million sales
Revenue rises 4.6% to ~$91.2 billion (CN¥656.24 billion), net profit recovers to ~$1.41 billion (CN¥10.11 billion), and wholesale sales reach 4.507 million.
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
Nissan
- Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (34% Controlling Stake)2016$2.2B
- Mitsubishi Motors2016Undisclosed
- Prince Motor Company1966Undisclosed
SAIC Motor
- KG Mobility2026Undisclosed
- Wuhan Kotei Informatics2017$22M
- Nanjing Automobile (incl. MG brand)2007Undisclosed
- Nanjing Automobile2007Undisclosed
- Rover Group Technology2005Undisclosed
- SsangYong Motor (48.9% stake)2004$500M
Questions about Nissan vs SAIC Motor
Who is the CEO of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and SAIC Motor?
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. is led by Ivan Espinosa and SAIC Motor is led by Jia Jianxu. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. founded vs SAIC Motor?
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. was founded in 1933 — 22 years before SAIC Motor, which was founded in 1955. Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger SAIC Motor.
How many employees does Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. have compared to SAIC Motor?
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. employs approximately 120,079 people, while SAIC Motor employs approximately 179,797. SAIC Motor has the larger workforce at 179,797 employees, compared to Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.'s 120,079. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and SAIC Motor headquartered?
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. is headquartered in Japan and SAIC Motor is headquartered in China. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and SAIC Motor?
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. was founded by Yoshisuke Aikawa, William Gorham, Masujiro Hashimoto, Rokuro Aoyama. SAIC Motor was founded by Chen Xianglin.
Which company has a longer operating history — Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. or SAIC Motor?
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. has been operating for approximately 93 years, making it the more established of the two companies. SAIC Motor has been in operation for around 71 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 Nissan vs SAIC Motor overview