Mobil’s legacy was conceived in 1866 when Matthew P. Ewing, an inventor, developed a new method for processing superior lubricants by distilling crude oil in a vacuum. As a result, Vacuum Oil was established to produce and market fuel products. 

In 1931, Vacuum Oil merged with Standard Oil of New York (Socony) to become Socony Vacuum. Socony, like its affiliate Jersey Standard had established its presence in the region since the 1890s.

In 1933 Socony Vacuum merged its Far Eastern operations with its Standard Oil affiliate Jersey Standard to become the Socony Vacuum Oil Company. In 1955 it changed its name to Socony Mobil Oil company. The joint venture was dissolved by the US Justice Department in 1960 in order to renew competition in the region’s oil and gas industry. Subsequently, Mobil Corporation was incorporated in 1966.

Mobil’s operations focused on the downstream sector, where it developed a network of some 200 service stations with in-house convenience stores, a range of fuel products such as LPG, lubricants, and industrial products such as solvent and wax emulsion.

Presently the Mobil brand of lubricants are known as top performers in oil engine protection. Mobil 1 in particular is a leading lubricant used in Formula 1 cars and many of the world’s quality automobile manufacturers.

Read a more detailed history about Exxon and Mobil in the 20th century on the Corporation's website.