The history of Aral

The Aral brand literally grew out of a test tube. In 1924, a chemist at B.V. (Benzol-Verband), Walter Oswald, invented a new, highly efficient fuel based on a blend of petrol and benzol. Oswald came up with the name for the new fuel himself — he took "AR" from "aromatic" (benzol belongs to the group of aromatic organic compounds) and "AL" from "aliphatic" (petrol belongs to the aliphatic compounds). The result was B.V. ARAL — back then a cutting-edge fuel, and today a recognised standard of quality and one of the most respected brands on Germany's energy market.

Benzol-Verband was founded in 1898 by coal-mining companies from the German city of Bochum as a company that sold chemical plants aromatic hydrocarbons — by-products of coke production (toluene, xylene, benzol). ARAL's head office is still located in Bochum to this day.

B.V. released its first own-brand lubricants onto the market in 1929, and as early as 1939 came the world's first all-season, fully synthetic engine oil, Aral Kowal.

Also see:

• The full article on ARAL engine oils and the brand's history
• ARAL automotive oil selector by vehicle
• Description of ARAL engine oils on avtomaslo.org