# Castrol

> lubricants brand of the BP group

**Wikidata**: [Q1049970](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1049970)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castrol)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/castrol

## Summary
Castrol is a British industrial and automotive brand specializing in the production of motor oil and lubricants, operating as a subsidiary of the BP group. Founded by Charles Wakefield, 1st Viscount Wakefield, the company was established in the United Kingdom with inception dates recorded in 1899 and 1918. It operates as a private company limited by shares and maintains its headquarters in Reading.

## Key Facts
- **Definition**: A lubricants brand of the BP group, classified as a business, enterprise, and brand.
- **Founding**: Founded by Charles Wakefield, 1st Viscount Wakefield, with inception dates cited as 1899 and 1918.
- **Headquarters**: Reading, United Kingdom (an island country in north-west Europe).
- **Ownership**: Parent organization is BP; operates as a private company limited by shares.
- **Industry**: Petroleum industry.
- **Products**: Produces motor oil.
- **Legal Identifiers**: Companies House Company ID is 00149435; OpenCorporates ID is gb/00149435.
- **Academic/Research IDs**: GRID ID is grid.433057.6; ROR ID is 0503ft796; Scilit Organization ID is 24794.
- **Digital Presence**: Official website is castrol.com; Wikipedia presence across 27 languages including English, German, French, Spanish, Japanese, and Chinese.
- **Social Media Followers**: As of May 18, 2025, the primary YouTube channel has 63,300 subscribers; as of February 3, 2023, the main Twitter account has 49,514 followers.
- **Aliases**: Castrol Limited, ダッカマス, ビーピーカストロール, カストロールジャパン.
- **Quora Topic**: Indexed under the topic "Castrol".
- **Fandom Article**: Identified as logo:Castrol with article ID 83133.
- **BoardGameGeek**: Listed as a game publisher with ID 21248.
- **Crunchbase**: Organization ID is castrol.
- **Described At**: AutoZone landing page at autozone.com.
- **Commons Category**: "Castrol" on Wikimedia Commons.

## FAQs
**What does Castrol produce and what industry does it operate in?**
Castrol operates within the petroleum industry and primarily produces motor oil. As a brand of the BP group, it serves as a key player in the industrial and automotive lubricants market.

**Who founded Castrol and when was it established?**
The company was founded by Charles Wakefield, 1st Viscount Wakefield. Historical records cite two inception dates for the entity: 1899 and 1918.

**How is Castrol structured legally and who owns it?**
Castrol is structured as a private company limited by shares. It is owned by BP, which serves as its parent organization, and maintains its headquarters in Reading, United Kingdom.

**What is Castrol's digital and social media presence?**
Castrol maintains a primary website at castrol.com and is active on multiple social media platforms. The main @Castrol Twitter account was started on June 10, 2009, and the official YouTube channel was created on June 5, 2009. Regional accounts include @CastrolUSA and @castrolturkiye.

## Why It Matters
Castrol plays a pivotal role in the global petroleum and automotive industries as a major producer of motor oil and lubricants. As a subsidiary of the BP group, it leverages the resources of one of the world's largest energy companies to distribute its products internationally. The brand's longevity, with roots tracing back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries (1899 and 1918), demonstrates its enduring relevance and adaptability in the industrial sector. Its presence in 27 Wikipedia languages and across various digital platforms highlights its global recognition and influence in automotive maintenance and industrial applications.

## Notable For
- Being a globally recognized lubricants brand operating under the BP group.
- Producing motor oil for industrial and automotive applications.
- Having a long corporate history with inception dates in 1899 and 1918.
- Being founded by Charles Wakefield, 1st Viscount Wakefield.
- Maintaining a significant digital footprint with a verified Twitter account and over 63,300 YouTube subscribers as of 2025.
- Being indexed across multiple knowledge bases including Freebase, Crunchbase, and Wikidata.
- Holding a Companies House registration (00149435) in the United Kingdom.
- Being featured in diverse platforms from AutoZone to BoardGameGeek.

## Body

### Corporate Structure and Ownership
Castrol operates as a private company limited by shares under the legal jurisdiction of the United Kingdom. The company's legal identity is supported by its registration with Companies House under the ID 00149435, which is also reflected in its OpenCorporates ID (gb/00149435). As a subsidiary, its parent organization is BP, a major global energy corporation. The company's administrative headquarters are located in Reading, United Kingdom. This structure classifies it as both a business and an enterprise, while also functioning as a recognized brand.

### Founding and History
The company's inception is associated with two significant dates: 1899 and 1918. The founder of Castrol is Charles Wakefield, 1st Viscount Wakefield, a prominent historical figure. These dates mark the establishment and subsequent formalization of the company that would become a leading name in the petroleum industry. The entity is deeply rooted in the United Kingdom, a sovereign state and constitutional monarchy in north-west Europe with a rich history of industrial innovation.

### Products and Industry
Castrol is a key player in the petroleum industry, specifically focusing on the production of lubricants. Its primary product is motor oil, which is used in both automotive and industrial applications worldwide. This focus positions the brand as an essential component in the maintenance and operation of machinery and vehicles.

### Digital Presence and Social Media
Castrol maintains a robust online presence through its official website, castrol.com, which is available in multiple languages including English and Romanian. The brand is highly active on social media platforms:
- **Twitter**: Operates multiple accounts, including the main @Castrol account (started June 10, 2009, with 49,514 followers as of Feb 3, 2023), @CastrolUSA (started January 7, 2009), and @castrolturkiye (started March 2, 2011).
- **YouTube**: The official channel (ID: UCqWt41sdzPyfdmGsNP67eRw) was created on June 5, 2009, and has grown to 63,300 subscribers as of May 18, 2025, with over 63 million total views.
- **Facebook**: Maintains a presence with the handle castrol.tw.
- **Instagram**: Operates an account under the handle castrolbiking.

### Global Recognition and Knowledge Base Indexing
The brand's global reach is evidenced by its presence in 27 Wikipedia languages, including Arabic, German, French, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese. It is indexed in numerous academic and commercial databases:
- **Freebase ID**: /m/04p1hb
- **Crunchbase Organization ID**: castrol
- **GRID ID**: grid.433057.6
- **ROR ID**: 0503ft796
- **Scilit Organization ID**: 24794
- **Fandom Article ID**: 83133 (under logo:Castrol)
- **Quora Topic**: Castrol
- **BoardGameGeek Publisher ID**: 21248

The Wikidata description for the entity succinctly defines it as a "lubricants brand of the BP group." The Wikimedia Commons category for the brand is "Castrol," and it is featured on external commercial sites such as AutoZone.

### Media and Visual Identity
The visual identity of Castrol includes its logo, accessible via Wikimedia Commons (Castrol_logo_2023.svg). The brand is also associated with various images, including Castrol-Werbung HH_02.jpg and a Dodge Charger NASCAR image, reflecting its involvement in automotive sports and advertising.

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-05-22
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. Google Knowledge Graph
4. Quora
5. YouTube API