SAIC Motor vs Toyota: Founders, CEOs and History
SAIC Motor was founded in 1955 by Chen Xianglin and is led by Jia Jianxu. Toyota was founded in 1937 by Kiichiro Toyoda, Sakichi Toyoda and is led by Kenta Kon.
Company facts
SAIC Motor
- Founded
- 1955
- Headquarters
- Shanghai, China
- Current CEO
- Jia Jianxu
- Employees
- 179,797
Toyota
- Founded
- 1937
- Headquarters
- Toyota City, Aichi, Japan
- Current CEO
- Kenta Kon
- Employees
- 375,235
Founders
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.
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
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
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: SAIC Motor 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.
1955SAIC Motor
Shanghai auto industry roots
Shanghai consolidates auto repair and parts workshops, the base from which SAIC later grew.
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.
1958SAIC Motor
Phoenix sedan built
The Shanghai Automobile Assembly Plant builds the Phoenix, Shanghai's first passenger car.
1966Toyota
Corolla launched
Toyota launched the Corolla, a compact car that became central to its mass-market export strategy.
1984SAIC Motor
SAIC Volkswagen joint venture signed
China's first car joint venture is signed to build the Volkswagen Santana in Shanghai.
1989Toyota
Lexus launches
Toyota launched Lexus with the LS 400, moving into premium vehicles with a quality-led strategy.
1997SAIC Motor
SAIC General Motors formed
SAIC and GM set up a 50:50 joint venture in Shanghai to build Buick cars.
1997Toyota
Prius launches in Japan
Toyota launched the Prius, turning hybrid technology into a mass-produced passenger vehicle.
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.
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.
2016Toyota
Acquired Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.
Toyota Motor acquired Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd..
2018SAIC Motor
Sales Pass 7 Million Vehicles
SAIC sold more than 7 million vehicles in 2018, its highest annual total.
2020SAIC Motor
IM Motors launched with Alibaba
SAIC, Alibaba and Zhangjiang Hi-Tech set up premium EV brand IM Motors.
2021Toyota
Acquired Lyft Level 5
Toyota Motor acquired Lyft Level 5 for $550 million.
2021Toyota
Acquired CARMERA
Toyota Motor acquired CARMERA.
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.
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.
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
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
Toyota
- Lyft Level 52021$550M
- CARMERA2021Undisclosed
- Renovo Motors2021Undisclosed
- Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.2016Undisclosed
- Toyota Auto Body2012Undisclosed
Questions about SAIC Motor vs Toyota
Who is the CEO of SAIC Motor and Toyota Motor Corporation?
SAIC Motor is led by Jia Jianxu 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 SAIC Motor founded vs Toyota Motor Corporation?
Toyota Motor Corporation was founded in 1937 — 18 years before SAIC Motor, which was founded in 1955. Toyota Motor Corporation'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 SAIC Motor have compared to Toyota Motor Corporation?
SAIC Motor employs approximately 179,797 people, while Toyota Motor Corporation employs approximately 375,235. Toyota Motor Corporation has the larger workforce at 375,235 employees, compared to SAIC Motor's 179,797. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are SAIC Motor and Toyota Motor Corporation headquartered?
SAIC Motor is headquartered in China 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 SAIC Motor and Toyota Motor Corporation?
SAIC Motor was founded by Chen Xianglin. Toyota Motor Corporation was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda, Sakichi Toyoda.
Which company has a longer operating history — SAIC Motor or Toyota Motor Corporation?
Toyota Motor Corporation has been operating for approximately 89 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 SAIC Motor vs Toyota overview