Valvoline Ditches Refining Business to Focus on Retail

The Valvoline Instant Oil Change chain is owned by the publicly traded company Valvoline, Inc. In a surprising move, the company chose to keep its Instant Oil Change chain and sold its oil production and refining business to Aramco in March 2023 for $2.65 billion.

With over 2,100 locations, Valvoline's Instant Oil Change chain is considered the best oil change chain by customer satisfaction and has grown to become the number two quick oil change company in the U.S. and the third biggest in Canada by 2022.

The company uses a hybrid model that includes both company-owned and franchised locations, with some large franchisees operating stores within the Valvoline system. One of these is Great Canadian Oil Change, which has over 100 locations, while another is Velocity Auto Care, which plans to have 75 more locations open in Texas by 2027.

Valvoline has expanded its service offerings beyond quick oil changes and now offers battery replacements, differential fluid changes, replacement of headlights and taillights, air conditioning recharges, air filter replacements, tire rotation, and much more.