Toyota vs VinFast: Founders, CEOs and History
Toyota was founded in 1937 by Kiichiro Toyoda, Sakichi Toyoda and is led by Kenta Kon. VinFast was founded in 2017 by Pham Nhat Vuong and is led by Pham Nhat Quan Anh.
Company facts
Founders
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.
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
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
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: Toyota and VinFast 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.
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.
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.
2016Toyota
Acquired Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.
Toyota Motor acquired Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd..
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.
2019VinFast
Hai Phong plant opens
Began customer deliveries in Vietnam.
2020VinFast
Acquired Lang Lang Proving Ground (Australia)
VinFast acquired Lang Lang Proving Ground (Australia).
2021Toyota
Acquired Lyft Level 5
Toyota Motor acquired Lyft Level 5 for $550 million.
2021Toyota
Acquired CARMERA
Toyota Motor acquired CARMERA.
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.
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.
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).
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
Toyota
- Lyft Level 52021$550M
- CARMERA2021Undisclosed
- Renovo Motors2021Undisclosed
- Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.2016Undisclosed
- Toyota Auto Body2012Undisclosed
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 Toyota vs VinFast
Who is the CEO of Toyota Motor Corporation and VinFast?
Toyota Motor Corporation is led by Kenta Kon 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 Toyota Motor Corporation founded vs VinFast?
Toyota Motor Corporation was founded in 1937 — 80 years before VinFast, which was founded in 2017. Toyota 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 Toyota Motor Corporation have compared to VinFast?
Toyota Motor Corporation employs approximately 375,235 people. A verified employee count for VinFast is not currently available.
Where are Toyota Motor Corporation and VinFast headquartered?
Toyota 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 Toyota Motor Corporation and VinFast?
Toyota Motor Corporation was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda, Sakichi Toyoda. VinFast was founded by Pham Nhat Vuong.
Which company has a longer operating history — Toyota Motor Corporation or VinFast?
Toyota Motor Corporation has been operating for approximately 89 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 Toyota vs VinFast overview