by Jordan Treloar and Lucas Holmes
Famed Australian fuel company Ampol is returning to the streets of Australia for the first time in 25 years since the retirement of the name after being taken over by Caltex in 1995.
Key Points
- After merging with Caltex in 1995, Australian fuel company Ampol has returned to Australian streets
- Ampol service stations will be steadily rolled out around Australia with the first stations having been opened in Concord and Granville NSW on August 21st
- Managing Director and CEO of Caltex Julian Segal stated that the decision to bring back the brand “reflects the focus we still have today on our heritage of friendly and efficient service, high-quality Australian-made products and being part of the local community”
Service stations with the new Ampol signage will be rolled out around Australia over the next three years, with the first stations opening on August 21st in Concord and Granville in New South Wales.
These Sydney suburbs were chosen as a nod to the brands history, with the company being founded by Sir William Gaston Walkley in Sydney in 1952 along with the first ever fuel delivery by Ampol in 1937.
READ MORE: Caltex to rebrand as Ampol from 2020
Managing Director and CEO of Caltex Australia, Julian Segal, said the announcement was a great opportunity for the company to bring back this iconic brand that is still trusted by Australians of all ages.
“Ampol is an iconic Australian name, a brand which reflects our deep Australian heritage and expertise,” said Segal.
“Our market research confirmed that Ampol continues to be regarded as a trusted brand by Australian consumers, even [by] those who weren’t born when the brand was retired.
“Our decision to bring Ampol back reflects the focus we still have today on our heritage of friendly and efficient service, high-quality Australian-made products and being part of the local community.
“Transitioning to an Australian-owned brand will give us the freedom and independence to evolve here in Australia.
“Everything else about our business remains the same, including the development and delivery of high-quality premium fuels to all of our customers.”
The withdrawal of Caltex and the reintroduction of the Ampol name is due to United States oil company Chevron terminating the licencing agreement that allowed the Caltex name to be used in Australia.
Along with the introduction to your local servo, Ampol has returned to the race track, with the Red Bull Holden Racing Team updating their race livery and race suits with the Ampol name.
READ MORE: Ampol returns to Australian Motorsport
Supercars driver and seven-time champion Jamie Whincup along with teammate Shane van Gisbergen welcomed the brand back at the Hidden Valley Triple Crown event held in the Northern Territory, with Whincup stating that he is excited to be a part of the brands return.
“Ampol has a long history in Australian motorsport and I’m excited that the Red Bull Holden Racing Team is part of its return.
“We’ll have the new Ampol and Amplify Premium Fuels logos on our cars … and we’ll be doing our best to give the brand a successful return to the track,” Whincup said.
