 | |
| Formerly |
|
|---|---|
| Company type | Public company |
| Industry | Chemical manufacturing and distribution,car repair |
| Predecessors |
|
| Founded | September 6, 1866; 159 years ago (1866-09-06) inBinghamton, New York, U.S. (as the Continuous Oil Refining Company) |
| Founder | John Ellis |
| Headquarters | , U.S. |
Key people | |
| Revenue |  US$1.62 billion (2024) |
| US$367 million (2024) | |
 US$212 million (2024) | |
| Total assets | US$2.44 billion (2024) |
| Total equity | US$186 million (2024) |
Number of employees | 11,500 (2024) |
| Subsidiaries |
|
| Website | valvoline |
| Footnotes / references [1][2][3] | |
Valvoline Inc. (/ˈvælvəliːn/VAL-və-leen) is an American retail automotive services company based inLexington,Kentucky. It licenses the name for a number of Valvoline-labeledautomotive oil,additives, andlubricants. It also owns theValvoline Instant Oil Change, Great Canadian Oil Change and Valvoline Express Care car repair chains. As of 2023[update], it is the second largest oil change service provider in the United States with 10% market share and over 1,650 locations.[4][5][6]
Dr. John Ellis, the inventor of a petroleum lubricant for steam engines, founded Valvoline in 1866, inBinghamton, New York, as the "Continuous Oil Refining Company". In 1868, Ellis renamed his Binghamton Cylinder Oil to the more memorable Valvoline. The next year, he moved the Continuous Oil Refining Company toBrooklyn. With his son and son-in-law, Ellis renamed the company to "Ellis & Leonard" and relocated toShadyside, New Jersey. Valvoline received commendations byCharles F. Chandler and others at theParis Exhibition of 1878.[7] By the 1890s, Valvoline oil was associated with winning race cars.[8] During the early 20th century, Valvoline was the recommended motor oil for theFord Model T.[4]
In 1949,Ashland Inc. purchased the Freedom-Valvoline Company.[9]
By 2016, Ashland's Valvoline subsidiary accounted for about 37% of the parent company's annual revenue.[4] Valvoline completed aninitial public offering on theNew York Stock Exchange on September 22, 2016,[10] ahead of Ashland spinning off Valvoline as an independent company on May 5, 2017.[1]
On August 1, 2022,Saudi Aramco announced the acquisition of Valvoline's lubricant unit for US$2.65 billion.[11][12]
Valvoline is an official recommended fuel and motor oil for allGeneral Motors marquees includingChevrolet,Buick andCadillac and also all-Honda Motor Company group brands including Honda andAcura for automobiles only as well as Honda for motorcycles only.
Valvoline haș sponsored in some sort of capacity inNASCAR since 1981. They first entered the sport withCale Yarborough in 1981 and 1982 withM. C. Anderson Racing. In 1983 and 1984, they appeared on theWood Brothers Racing legendary 21 car withBuddy Baker then the year after they sponsoredRon Bouchard and the 47Race Hill Farms Team. Following Bouchard toCurb Racing in 1986 and then withGreg Sacks in 1987 in the 50 for the Dingman Brothers Racing team. The following season, they sponsoredRahMoc Enterprises andNeil Bonnett, which capped the season off with a win in Australia, NASCAR's first entry outside of North America.
In 1992, they started their relationship withRoush Racing and driverMark Martin which resulted in 27 wins together, one of the winningest combinations in NASCAR history. After the year 2000, Valvoline executive James Rocco decided he wanted to get into the car ownership side of the sport and Valvoline would own and sponsor a team, an unprecedented move at the time. They bought a share intoTyler Jet Motorsports which merged intoMB2 Motorsports for the 2001 season on the 10 car.Johnny Benson would drive for the team for three years, resulting with one win in 2002. Following 2003, the team would signScott Riggs to drive the 10 in 2004. Following the 2005 season, Valvoine sold its share of the team back to MB2 and would take the sponsorship toEvernham Motorsports where the combo would drive for two more years together.
In 2007, the team signed CanadianPatrick Carpentier to drive the car. After 2008, Valvoline scaled back its sponsorship to a part time roll in 2009 when that team merged with Petty Enterprises and formedRichard Petty Motorsports, they sponsored bothReed Sorenson andA. J. Allmendinger that year on the 43 and 44 Dodge Chargers. Following the season, the sponsorship returned toRoush Fenway Racing to sponsor Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle in some capacity over the years while also sponsoring Allmendinger's 43 Ford at Richard Petty Motorsports. In 2014, the oil brand reunited withHendrick Motorsports and continues to this day, they currently sponsorKyle Larson andWilliam Byron.
Other brands the Valvoline sponsorship has been involved with other teams including theZerex Coolant brand which was withAK Racing andAlan Kulwicki from 1986 to 1990 and the Aluguard Antifreeze brand which partnered withRusty Wallace atBlue Max Racing from 1985 and 1986.
Valvoline sponsored a number of auto races to market its motor oil, including theSCCA National Championship Runoffs andBommarito Automotive Group 500. Valvoline also sponsored the first woman to compete in both theDaytona 500 andIndianapolis 500,Janet Guthrie, as well asCART driverAl Unser Jr. (1988–1993).[2][failed verification]
In Australia, Valvoline ownsnaming rights to theSydney Speedway[13] and sponsors theAustralian Sprintcar Grand Prix. It also sponsored the1994 Australian Manufacturers' Championship.
Since June 2020, Valvoline sponsorsLa Liga association clubSevilla FC as a global partner, with their logo appearing on the sleeves of match kits.[14]
Since July 2023 Valvoline is currently sponsoring theAston Martin Formula One team as an extension of the team's existing partnership with Aramco, and the partnership will be upgraded to lubricant supply role from 2026 season onwards due toHonda engine direct partnership.[15] From 2025 season onwards Valvoline will also supplying lubricants toRenault-backedBWT Alpine F1 Team.
