Suzuki vs VinFast: Founders, CEOs and History
Suzuki was founded in 1909 by Michio Suzuki and is led by Toshihiro Suzuki. VinFast was founded in 2017 by Pham Nhat Vuong and is led by Pham Nhat Quan Anh.
Company facts
Founders
Suzuki
Michio Suzuki
Michio Suzuki founded the Suzuki Loom Works in 1909. A brilliant, highly pragmatic inventor, he initially built incredibly reliable, highly innovative mechanical weaving looms for Japan's massive silk industry.
VinFast
Pham Nhat Vuong
Pham Nhat Vuong is the founder and chairman of Vingroup and is ranked by Forbes as Vietnam's richest person.
CEOs and their tenures
Suzuki
- Osamu Suzuki1978–2021
President & Chairman (19782021)
Transformed a regional Japanese motorcycle and kei car manufacturer into a global automotive leader producing over 3 million cars annually.
Source - Toshihiro Suzuki2015–present
Representative Director & President / CEO
Modernized Suzuki's product lineup, maintained market leadership in India and Japan, and navigated the capital-intensive transition to electrification while preserving corporate profitability.
Source
VinFast
- Le Thi Thu Thuy2021–2026
Global CEO; later Chairwoman
As Global CEO, she acts as the absolute driving operational force attempting to brutally pivot the Vietnamese conglomerate into a massive global electric vehicle powerhouse against intense Western skepticism.
Source - Pham Nhat Vuong2024–2026
Founder; Global Chief Executive Officer
Founded VinFast in 2017 as Vingroup chairman and took the CEO role himself in January 2024, leading the VF 3 launch and the opening of plants in Ha Tinh, India and Indonesia before handing the post to his son in September 2026.
Source - Pham Nhat Quan Anh2026–present
Global Chief Executive Officer
Appointed chairman of VinFast's board effective May 23, 2026, replacing Le Thi Thu Thuy, then named global CEO in September 2026, succeeding his father, founder Pham Nhat Vuong. He also became chairman and CEO of VinFast Vietnam.
Source
Timeline: Suzuki and VinFast side by side
1909Suzuki
Michio Suzuki Founds Suzuki Loom Works: Michio Suzuki establishes Suzuki Loom Works in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, manufacturing innovative weaving looms for Japan's booming textile trade.
1952Suzuki
Launch of Power Free Motorized Bicycle: Suzuki enters motorized transportation with the Power Free 36cc two-stroke motorized bicycle, designed to provide affordable transportation for post-war Japanes…
1955Suzuki
Launch of Suzulight: Japan's Kei Car Pioneer: Introduces the Suzulight, a lightweight front-wheel-drive 360cc passenger car that helped pioneer Japan's official kei car minivehicle regulations.
1970Suzuki
Launch of First-Generation Jimny (LJ10): Unveils the Jimny LJ10, the world's first mass-produced 4x4 minivehicle, initiating a half-century global off-road cult phenomenon.
1982Suzuki
Historic Joint Venture Agreement Forming Maruti Udyog in India: Osamu Suzuki signs a landmark joint venture agreement with the Government of India, establishing Maruti Udyog Limited to motorized the s…
1983Suzuki
Rollout of the Maruti 800 in India: The first Maruti 800 rolls off the Gurgaon assembly line, priced accessibly to become the definitive people's car that motorized modern India.
2004Suzuki
Launch of First Global Strategic Vehicle: Suzuki Swift: Debuts the redesigned Suzuki Swift as a global strategic hatchback engineered to European driving dynamics, achieving over 9 million global sale…
2009Suzuki
Volkswagen Alliance
Volkswagen bought a 19.9 percent stake in Suzuki in December 2009. The alliance broke down and ended in 2015.
2015Suzuki
Victory in London International Arbitration Against Volkswagen: International Court of Arbitration orders Volkswagen to divest its 19.9% stake in Suzuki, vindicating Osamu Suzuki's defense of manageme…
2017VinFast
VinFast founded
Broke ground on the Hai Phong car plant in September 2017.
2018VinFast
Paris Motor Show debut
Showed the Pininfarina-styled Lux A2.0 and Lux SA2.0.
2018VinFast
Acquired General Motors Vietnam
VinFast acquired General Motors Vietnam.
2019Suzuki
Capital Alliance Established with Toyota Motor Corporation: Toyota acquires a 4.94% equity stake in Suzuki, while Suzuki invests approximately $450 million in Toyota shares, cementing collaboration on…
2019VinFast
Hai Phong plant opens
Began customer deliveries in Vietnam.
2020VinFast
Acquired Lang Lang Proving Ground (Australia)
VinFast acquired Lang Lang Proving Ground (Australia).
2021Suzuki
Retirement of Osamu Suzuki at Age 91: Osamu Suzuki retires as Chairman after 43 years leading the corporation, transferring full stewardship to President Toshihiro Suzuki.
2021VinFast
First Electric Car Delivered
VinFast began delivering its first electric car, the VF e34, in Vietnam in December 2021.
2022VinFast
EVs only
Ended petrol car production and shipped its first VF 8s to the US.
2023VinFast
Nasdaq listing (VFS)
Listed on August 15, 2023, after merging with Black Spade Acquisition Co.
2023VinFast
North Carolina Plant Groundbreaking
VinFast broke ground on a factory in Chatham County, North Carolina, in July 2023.
2024VinFast
Founder named CEO
Pham Nhat Vuong became CEO in January; the VF 3 launched and North Carolina production was pushed to 2028.
2025Suzuki
Global Rollout of Suzuki eVX Electric SUV: Launches its first dedicated global battery electric SUV (eVX) manufactured in Gujarat, India, featuring 60 kWh battery capacity and 500 km electric range.
2025VinFast
Revenue reaches ~$3.47 billion (VND 90.2 trillion)
Revenue of ~$3.47 billion (VND 90.2 trillion) on 196,919 EV deliveries; plants opened in Ha Tinh, India and Indonesia.
2026VinFast
Pham Nhat Quan Anh becomes CEO
Became chairman in May and global CEO in September; North Carolina sued over the delayed plant in May.
Acquisitions
Suzuki
- Suzuki Motor Gujarat Pvt Ltd (Full Consolidation)2023$1.5B
- GMDAT2004Undisclosed
- Maruti Suzuki India Limited (Controlling Majority Equity Expansion)2002$242M
VinFast
- Ngoc Hoi2026Undisclosed
- Future Investment Research and Development JSC2026Undisclosed
- VinES Energy Solutions2023Undisclosed
- Black Spade Acquisition Co.2023Undisclosed
- Lang Lang Proving Ground (Australia)2020Undisclosed
- General Motors Vietnam2018Undisclosed
Questions about Suzuki vs VinFast
Who is the CEO of Suzuki Motor Corporation and VinFast?
Suzuki Motor Corporation is led by Toshihiro Suzuki and VinFast is led by Pham Nhat Quan Anh. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Suzuki Motor Corporation founded vs VinFast?
Suzuki Motor Corporation was founded in 1909 — 108 years before VinFast, which was founded in 2017. Suzuki Motor Corporation's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger VinFast.
How many employees does Suzuki Motor Corporation have compared to VinFast?
Suzuki Motor Corporation employs approximately 70,000 people. A verified employee count for VinFast is not currently available.
Where are Suzuki Motor Corporation and VinFast headquartered?
Suzuki Motor Corporation is headquartered in Japan and VinFast is headquartered in Vietnam. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Suzuki Motor Corporation and VinFast?
Suzuki Motor Corporation was founded by Michio Suzuki. VinFast was founded by Pham Nhat Vuong.
Which company has a longer operating history — Suzuki Motor Corporation or VinFast?
Suzuki Motor Corporation has been operating for approximately 117 years, making it the more established of the two companies. VinFast has been in operation for around 9 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 Suzuki vs VinFast overview