Amoco

The Amoco torch has burned bright in the American energy landscape for over a century, tracing its roots back to the Standard Oil Company of Indiana established in 1889. While John D. Rockefeller built the parent trust that would eventually encompass the brand, the specific entity known as Amoco emerged from the consolidation of several Indiana-based oil companies under that umbrella. The company grew into a powerhouse, introducing innovations like the gasoline tanker truck and the drive-through station long before they became industry standards. Its distinctive red, white, and blue oval logo featuring a central torch became a familiar sight across the nation.

In 1998, British Petroleum acquired the independent Amoco Corporation for roughly $46 billion, creating BP Amoco. By 2001, the global corporation began phasing out the historic name to unify its branding under the BP moniker. However, consumer loyalty to the Amoco identity remained strong in the United States. Following the reputational damage caused by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, BP strategically revived the Amoco brand in 2017. This move allowed the company to leverage nostalgia and distance retail experiences from corporate scandals while maintaining a distinct presence in the US market.

As of March 2026, the revived brand operates more than 1,000 retail locations primarily across the eastern, midwestern, and southern United States. It functions as a sub-brand of BP, offering fuel and rewards programs tailored specifically to American drivers. The brand continues to compete with major retailers like Shell and ExxonMobil, though its footprint is now concentrated regionally rather than nationwide. Recent local news also highlights active price wars in states like Georgia, where stations occasionally dropped prices to 97 cents per gallon, sometimes requiring police intervention to manage traffic. [edit]