Private company

Aral AG

Logo: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons3

German petroleum company

Aral AG (previously Veba Öl AG) is a German oil company established in 1898 as Westdeutsche Benzol-Verkaufs-Vereinigung GmbH (West German Benzene Marketing Corporation). The company is currently owned by British conglomerate BP after it was purchased in 2002. The Aral brand of petrol stations has presence in Germany and Luxembourg, but formerly used to be in most countries of Western and Central Europe.2 It is part of Aktiengesellschaft der Kohlenwertstoff-Verbände.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1898Founded1
  • Industrycoke plant, mining industry, petroleum industry1
  • HeadquartersBochum1
  • Websitewww.aral.de
  • Legal formAktiengesellschaft1
Luxembourg, Aire de Berchem Ouest (106)
Photo: GilPe, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons5

Aral AG (previously Veba Öl AG) is a German oil company established in 1898 as Westdeutsche Benzol-Verkaufs-Vereinigung GmbH (West German Benzene Marketing Corporation). The company is currently owned by British conglomerate BP after it was purchased in 2002.2

Corporate structure

Aral AG sits at the top of its group. 3 entities, 1 country on record. Switch between the flow chart and the network, and select any entity to see its details.

  • Aral AG Bochum

Built from subsidiaries, stakes and holdings from Wikidata (CC0); major holders from Schedules 13D and 13G. Each entity in the chart links to its source.

The story

The Aral brand was introduced in 1924 and is a portmanteau of the German words "Aromaten" and "Aliphaten", alluding to the aromatic and aliphatic components found in gasoline, respectively. With around 2,400 petrol stations operating, Aral is the market leader in Germany.

On 15 July 2001 Deutsche BP AG agreed to acquire 51% of Veba Öl AG. The acquisition was completed on 1 February 2002. The Aral brand name was retained, and 650 BP stations in Germany were rebranded "Aral". Six BP branded filling stations remained in operation in Germany to protect the company's rights to the name. Elsewhere, in Poland and Austria, Aral stations became BP ones. Aral chains in other countries were sold. Aral's slogan is "Alles super".

BP bought the chain in 2002 as part of a larger deal with German energy group E.ON.

From Wikipedia’s article on Aral AG, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Products and brands

  • gasoline

Listed on Wikidata.1

Aral sells various petroleum products: Besides classical gasoline, diesel fuel and lubricants, it also sells natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, such as propane or butane, liquid and gaseous hydrogen and heating oil.

Many Aral gas stations also sell other items under the convenience store name "Aral Store". During the 70's and 80's the brand name used was often "Aral Boutique". Many shops currently have a PetitBistro. Some stations also provide car washes under the name Ultimate SuperWash.

For businesses, Aral offers different types of fuel cards: Aral CardKomfort for small businesses, Aral CardPlus for larger companies and Aral CardTruck with additional truck-related services.

In a customer study on the quality of offers and service in gas stations by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Verbraucherstudien (DtGV, German Association for CStudies) in cooperation with N24, Aral finished third, behind Q1 and OIL!.

From Wikipedia’s article on Aral AG, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Subsidiaries and ownership

Parent company

  • Aktiengesellschaft der Kohlenwertstoff-Verbände
  • BP

Subsidiaries

From Wikidata.1

Timeline

  1. 1898Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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