Toyota vs XPeng: Founders, CEOs and History
Toyota was founded in 1937 by Kiichiro Toyoda, Sakichi Toyoda and is led by Kenta Kon. XPeng was founded in 2014 by He Xiaopeng, Henry Xia, He Tao and is led by He Xiaopeng.
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.
XPeng
He Xiaopeng
He Xiaopeng co-founded XPeng in 2014. A highly successful software billionaire (having sold UCWeb to Alibaba), he brought massive capital and deep software expertise to the automotive industry.
Henry Xia
Henry Xia (Xia Heng) co-founded XPeng in 2014. As a former senior R&D executive at GAC Group, he provided the absolutely critical, deeply complex mechanical engineering expertise required to actually manufacture a physical car, bridging the gap between Xiaopen…
He Tao
He Tao co-founded XPeng in 2014. Also a highly experienced veteran from GAC Group, he managed the massive, incredibly complex supply chain and early physical prototyping required to bring the company's first electric SUVs to mass production without catastrophi…
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
XPeng
- He Xiaopeng2017–present
Chairman of the Board & Chief Executive Officer
As Co-Founder and CEO, he acts as the absolute visionary driving force, aggressively pushing XPeng's 'XNGP' autonomous driving system to directly rival Tesla's FSD in massive Chinese mega-cities.
Source - Wang Fengying2023–present
President
Recruited as President (formerly the legendary CEO of Great Wall Motor), the highly feared automotive veteran brings absolute, iron-fisted operational discipline to the previously chaotic, software-focused startup.
Source
Timeline: Toyota and XPeng 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.
2014XPeng
XPeng founded in Guangzhou by Henry Xia and He Tao, with early backing from He Xiaopeng.
2016Toyota
Acquired Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.
Toyota Motor acquired Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd..
2017XPeng
He Xiaopeng becomes full-time Chairman and CEO.
2018XPeng
G3 Launched
XPeng launched its first production model, the G3 sport-utility vehicle, in December 2018.
2020XPeng
NYSE listing under XPEV.
2021Toyota
Acquired Lyft Level 5
Toyota Motor acquired Lyft Level 5 for $550 million.
2021Toyota
Acquired CARMERA
Toyota Motor acquired CARMERA.
2021XPeng
Dual-primary listing on HKEX under 9868.
2023XPeng
Volkswagen invests about US$700 million; Wang Fengying becomes President; deal agreed to acquire DiDi's smart auto business.
2024XPeng
MONA M03 Launched
XPeng launched the MONA M03, the first model of its lower-priced MONA brand, in August 2024.
2025XPeng
429,445 deliveries and first quarterly net profit in Q4.
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).
2026XPeng
MONA L03 global launch in Munich; Dogotix agrees US$900 million share sale.
Acquisitions
Toyota
- Lyft Level 52021$550M
- CARMERA2021Undisclosed
- Renovo Motors2021Undisclosed
- Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.2016Undisclosed
- Toyota Auto Body2012Undisclosed
XPeng
- PT Era Industri Otomotif (EIDO)2026Undisclosed
- DiDi Global smart auto business2023$744M
- DiDi Smart EV Division2023$744M
Questions about Toyota vs XPeng
Who is the CEO of Toyota Motor Corporation and XPeng?
Toyota Motor Corporation is led by Kenta Kon and XPeng is led by He Xiaopeng. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Toyota Motor Corporation founded vs XPeng?
Toyota Motor Corporation was founded in 1937 — 77 years before XPeng, which was founded in 2014. Toyota Motor Corporation's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger XPeng.
How many employees does Toyota Motor Corporation have compared to XPeng?
Toyota Motor Corporation employs approximately 375,235 people, while XPeng employs approximately 19,884. Toyota Motor Corporation has the larger workforce at 375,235 employees, compared to XPeng's 19,884. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Toyota Motor Corporation and XPeng headquartered?
Toyota Motor Corporation is headquartered in Japan and XPeng is headquartered in China. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Toyota Motor Corporation and XPeng?
Toyota Motor Corporation was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda, Sakichi Toyoda. XPeng was founded by He Xiaopeng, Henry Xia, He Tao.
Which company has a longer operating history — Toyota Motor Corporation or XPeng?
Toyota Motor Corporation has been operating for approximately 89 years, making it the more established of the two companies. XPeng has been in operation for around 12 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 XPeng overview