Liqui Moly

{{Short description|German company specializing in oils, lubricants and additives}} {{Multiple issues| {{COI|date=May 2017}} {{third-party|date=May 2017}} {{more citations needed|date=August 2008}} }} {{Infobox company | name = Liqui Moly GmbH | logo = [[File:Liqui-moly.svg|180px|Logo der Liqui Moly GmbH]] | caption = | type = Private | genre = Automotive service | fate = | predecessor = | successor = | foundation = {{Start date and age|1957}} | founder = | defunct = | location_city = [[Ulm]] | location_country = [[Germany]] | location = | locations = | area_served = | key_people = | industry = | products = [[motor oil]]s, [[lubricant]]s and [[Oil additive|additive]]s | services = | revenue = 917 million Euro (as of December 2023) | operating_income = | net_income = | aum = | assets = | equity = | owner = [[Würth Group]] | num_employees = 1104 (as of December 2023) | parent = | divisions = | subsid = | homepage = {{url|https://www.liqui-moly.com/|liqui-moly.com}} | footnotes = | intl = }} '''Liqui Moly GmbH''' is a German company specializing in [[oil]]s, [[lubricant]]s and [[Oil additive|additive]]s. As of January 1, 2018, Liqui Moly is part of the [[Würth Group]], which bought the remaining shares of the previous majority holder and CEO Ernst Prost. From 2018 to 2022, Günter Hiermaier was the second managing director alongside long-time managing director Ernst Prost. Prost retired in February 2022 on the occasion of his 65th birthday. Günter Hiermaier then served as the sole managing director of Liqui Moly until 2022. The Ulm-based company's long-time commercial director, Uli Weller, became the group's second managing director at the turn of 2023.<ref>[http://www.liqui-moly.com/liquimoly/web.nsf/id/pa_eng_home.html Liqui Moly] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080403235420/http://www.liqui-moly.com/liquimoly/web.nsf/id/pa_eng_home.html|date=2008-04-03}} Official website, Retrieved August 21, 2008.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=liqui-moly.de: LIQUI MOLY schlüpft unter das Dach der Würth-Gruppe |url=https://www.liqui-moly.de/presse/pressemeldungen/de/news/liqui-moly-schluepft-unter-das-dach-der-wuerth-gruppe.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222052218/https://www.liqui-moly.de/presse/pressemeldungen/de/news/liqui-moly-schluepft-unter-das-dach-der-wuerth-gruppe.html |archive-date=2017-12-22 |access-date=2017-12-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Management |url=https://www.liqui-moly.com/en/company/the-global-brand/management.html |access-date=2023-07-20 |website=LIQUI MOLY GmbH |language=en |archive-date=2023-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720083447/https://www.liqui-moly.com/en/company/the-global-brand/management.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ernst Prost announces his departure |url=https://www.liqui-moly.com/en/press/press-releases/detail/ernst-prost-announces-his-departure-7397.html |access-date=2023-07-20 |website=LIQUI MOLY GmbH |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=LIQUI MOLY with Massive Dual Leadership |url=https://www.liqui-moly.com/en/press/press-releases/liqui-moly-with-massive-dual-leadership.html |access-date=2023-07-20 |website=LIQUI MOLY GmbH |language=en}}</ref>

==Founding== Liqui Moly GmbH was founded in 1957 in [[Ulm]] on the river [[Danube]]. The patent for the production of [[molybdenum disulfide]] (MoS₂) formed the basis for the company. This additive based on liquified molybdenum [[disulfide]] (MoS₂) was the company's first product and gave it its name. Molybdenum sulfide, the basic ingredient of the Liqui Moly Oil additive, was discovered in the shops of the US Army in post-war Germany {{Citation needed|date=September 2022}}. These shops sold a can named Liqui Moly that contained the liquid form of the solid lubricant molybdenum sulfide (MoS₂). When added to motor oil, this substance ensures emergency running characteristics in the event of a sudden loss of oil. Fighter pilots in World War I had already exploited this property, adding MoS₂ to motor oil in the aircraft engines. This enabled pilots to still land, even if the oil tank was hit.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.liqui-moly.co.za/history/|title=LIQUI MOLY South Africa: History|website=LIQUI MOLY South Africa|access-date=March 6, 2018|archive-date=May 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507152805/http://www.liqui-moly.co.za/history/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Products== Liqui Moly's main product is [[motor oil]] with MoS₂, but there are also other lubricants with MoS₂ and the additive MoS₂ itself to be added by the end-user during oil changes. [[Molybdenum disulfide]] enhances the lubrication quality of the oil and offers emergency operating features under harsh conditions. It can be added to motor oils and non-motor oils, including [[gear oil]], transmission oil or differentials oils. An entire range was developed from this additive, with over 4,000 products, including engine and gear oils, additives and care products, workshop equipment, and service products. In Germany, Liqui Moly is one of the leading producers of engine oils. Germany remains the main marketplace, but international demands are increasing. Liqui Moly products are now sold in 120 countries.<ref>[http://www.liqui-moly.com/liquimoly/web.nsf/gfx/BE23D157B45C15F2C1257712005114EA/$file/Liqui-Moly_Company.doc ''LIQUI MOLY - Company information -.''] Website LIQUI MOLY. Retrieved June 07, 2016.{{Archive url|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629225501/http://www.liqui-moly.com/liquimoly/web.nsf/gfx/BE23D157B45C15F2C1257712005114EA/$file/Liqui-Moly_Company.doc|date=2016-06-29}}</ref>

== Sponsoring == ===Motorsports=== Liqui Moly sponsors [[Engstler Motorsport]] and FCP Euro in the [[TCR Touring Car|TCR]] touring car series. The Liqui Moly Team Engstler participates in TCR Asia, TCR Middle East, and ADAC TCR Germany 2017. Since 2013, the company has partnered with the motorcycle team Intact GP in the Moto2 class with riders Xavi Vierge and [[Marcel Schrötter]].<ref>{{cite web |title=FCP Euro Continues Partnership with LIQUI MOLY for The 2019 TC America Championship - MarketWatch |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/fcp-euro-continues-partnership-with-liqui-moly-for-the-2019-tc-america-championship-2019-01-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017193220/https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/fcp-euro-continues-partnership-with-liqui-moly-for-the-2019-tc-america-championship-2019-01-18 |archive-date=2019-10-17 |website=www.marketwatch.com}} </ref>

Liqui Moly was a sponsor in veoautokross and for Mikk Mäesaar in the 2018-19 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.liqui-moly.com/en/company/sponsoring.html|title=Our involvement in top sports|website=LIQUI MOLY international website|access-date=March 6, 2018}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=May 2021}}

The brand also entered the 2018 [[IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship]] in partnership with [[Turner Motorsport]] and participated in the [[24 Hours of Daytona]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.liqui-moly.com/en/press/press-releases/detail/news/liqui-moly-enters-the-imsa-series-with-turner-motorsport.html|title=LIQUI MOLY enters the IMSA series with Turner Motorsport|date=January 15, 2018|website=LIQUI MOLY international website|access-date=March 6, 2018|archive-date=March 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307022653/https://www.liqui-moly.com/en/press/press-releases/detail/news/liqui-moly-enters-the-imsa-series-with-turner-motorsport.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In July 2020, Liqui Moly became the official sponsor of Formula 1. The 3-year deal started at the [[2020 Styrian Grand Prix]] and will run until the end of the [[2022 Formula One World Championship|2022 Formula 1 World Championship]] season. In March 2023, the sponsorship was extended for the 2023 season.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Formula 1 confirms first race to start three year agreement with new Official Sponsor Liqui Moly |language=en |url=https://corp.formula1.com/formula-1-confirms-first-race-to-start-three-year-agreement-with-new-official-sponsor-liqui-moly |access-date=2020-06-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-08 |title=Formula 1 renews sponsorship deal with Liqui Moly |url=https://sportsmintmedia.com/formula-1-renews-sponsorship-deal-with-liqui-moly/ |access-date=2023-03-08 |website=SportsMint Media |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Other sports=== Liqui Moly has sponsored the German football club [[TSV 1860 Munich]] between 2002 and 2005 and Bosnian football club [[FK Željezničar Sarajevo]] between 2005 and 2007.

Since 2017, the company has sponsored the [[Los Angeles Kings]] of the [[National Hockey League]] (NHL). The company has also officially sponsored the Men's [[Ice Hockey World Championships]].

Since September 2018, Liqui Moly has been an official sponsor of the [[Chicago Bulls]] in the [[NBA|National Basketball Association (NBA)]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.liqui-moly.com/en/press/press-releases/detail/news/liqui-moly-partners-up-with-the-chicago-bulls-3197.html|title=LIQUI MOLY partners up with the Chicago Bulls|access-date=2018-09-28|language=en}}</ref>

In [[team handball]], the company has been the title sponsor of two top European leagues, Germany's [[Handball-Bundesliga]] (since 2019) and France's [[LNH Division 1|Starligue]] (since 2021).

Liqui Moly has also sponsored videos on the [[YouTube]] channel [[DriveTribe]], founded by [[Jeremy Clarkson]], [[Richard Hammond]], and [[James May]] from ''[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]]'' and ''[[The Grand Tour]]''.

Since 2024, Liqui Moly has been an official sponsor of the [[SSV Ulm]].

== See also == *[[Lubricant]]s *[[Internal combustion engine]]

== References == {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{Official website|https://www.liqui-moly.com/}}

[[Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1957]] [[Category:German companies established in 1957]] [[Category:1957 establishments in West Germany]] [[Category:Companies based in Ulm]] [[Category:Motor oils]] [[Category:Manufacturing companies of Germany]] [[Category:German brands]]