Story
It was 2011 and Castrol was at a crossroads. It had a goal of £2 billion in profitability by 2020, yet the world was moving fast in a direction that would fundamentally change not just Castrol’s business model but the entire industrial lubricants market. How could Castrol stay both relevant and profitable?
Solution
We helped Castrol build two platforms for growth. First we scanned the horizon for future possibilities, considering every change, threat and opportunity in sight. We then created a set of disruptive starter concepts that pushed Castrol beyond lubricants, building a compelling vision of the future role Castrol could play in a world of intelligent mobility.
We also helped build capability, supporting the launch of Castrol Innoventures, a multi-million incubator group dedicated to growing new business concepts beyond business as normal.
Results
Castol Innoventures is now four years old and manages a portfolio of disruptive ventures. Its star concept, Nexcel, is a revolutionary cartridge-based oil and filter system. Nexcel takes the oil change time from 30 minutes to 30 seconds and allows oil to be tailored to specific engines, improving performance. Its self-contained format also means significant environmental benefits. Nexcel is already on test with Aston Martin, and three of the world’s biggest car manufacturers are hot on its heels.