USA Gasoline
USA Gasoline is an American fuel-retailing brand with a history spanning gasoline stations, petroleum operations, and successive corporate ownership changes.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
USA Gasoline is an American gasoline-station and petroleum brand also associated with the names U Save Automatic and USA Petroleum. The business originated as Skypower Gasoline under Peter Moller and his sons Poul, Finn, and John Moller. It adopted the USA Gasoline name in 1968 and subsequently developed a multistate retail network serving motorists in the western United States. The brand’s historical footprint included Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Its business centered on retail fuel sales, particularly gasoline and diesel, through branded filling stations. During the 1970s, USA Gasoline experimented with self-service payment at the pump and formed an arrangement with Allstate Bank of Southern California that enabled participating banking customers to have purchases debited directly from their accounts. This placed the company among early gasoline retailers testing more automated fueling and payment practices. The network expanded through station conversions and portfolio transactions. UCO stations were converted to the USA Gasoline identity during 1975 and 1976, while Sears stations underwent conversion during 1976 and 1977. The company later became involved in a fuel-pricing dispute with ARCO, and it also faced operational and compliance issues involving underground storage tanks. In 2003, USA Petroleum agreed to pay $325,000 to resolve a dispute concerning leaking tanks and alleged groundwater and soil pollution at ten stations in Ventura County. The company also experienced an embezzlement case involving a former finance director, who was sentenced in 1994 after being convicted in connection with the theft of nearly $2.4 million. USA Petroleum announced the sale of 122 California stations to Chevron in 2006. The transaction was completed later that year. In 2007, Tesoro Corporation acquired USA Gasoline and approximately 140 retail stations, making the brand part of a larger western refining and marketing portfolio. Tesoro later changed its name to Andeavor in 2017, and Marathon Petroleum acquired Andeavor in 2018. The brand continued to grow through additional conversions. In 2011, 51 Albertsons Express locations and associated Mirastar stations were rebranded as USA Gasoline. In 2012, roughly 250 ARCO and Thrifty Oil locations were converted after BP did not renew the relevant leases. These transactions broadened the brand’s presence, although many sites remained dependent on local market conditions and the ownership strategy of the parent company. Following Marathon Petroleum’s acquisition of Andeavor, many USA Gasoline locations began conversion to Speedway or Speedway Express during the late 2010s and early 2020s. Speedway Express was used for some lower-volume locations or sites that did not have the facilities considered appropriate for a full Speedway operation. Marathon subsequently sold Speedway to 7-Eleven in 2021. As of 2025, some USA Gasoline stations remained, primarily in Southern California. Certain locations received red visual treatments associated with Speedway while continuing to operate under the USA Gasoline name. The brand’s remaining status and ownership structure are not clearly documented in the supplied reference material.
History
USA Gasoline traces its origins to Skypower Gasoline, an American petroleum business founded by Peter Moller and his sons Poul, Finn, and John Moller. The company changed its name to USA Gasoline in 1968 and also operated under the corporate or trading name USA Petroleum. Its business model focused on operating gasoline stations and selling motor fuel to consumers in the United States. The company developed an early reputation for experimenting with retail automation. During the 1970s, it became one of the first gasoline retailers to test self-service payment at the pump. Through an agreement with Allstate Bank of Southern California, eligible customers could have fuel purchases charged directly to their bank accounts. The initiative reflected the increasing use of electronic banking and automated fueling at American service stations. USA Gasoline expanded its station network through conversions. All UCO stations were converted to the USA Gasoline brand over 1975 and 1976, followed by the conversion of Sears stations during 1976 and 1977. The company operated across a broad western footprint that at various times included Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Its headquarters moved from Santa Monica to Ventura in 1992 and then to Agoura Hills in 1993. The late 1980s and 1990s brought both commercial disputes and corporate misconduct issues. USA Petroleum was involved in a lawsuit with ARCO concerning fuel prices between 1988 and 1990. In 1994, Marvin Jay Caukin, the company's former Director of Finance, was sentenced to 33 months in prison for embezzling nearly $2.4 million. These events form part of the documented legal and governance history of the business. Environmental compliance also affected the company. In 2003, USA Petroleum agreed to pay $325,000 to settle a dispute related to leaking underground fuel tanks at ten USA Gasoline stations in Ventura County. The dispute alleged contamination affecting groundwater and soil. In 2006, the company announced the sale of 122 California stations to Chevron, and the transaction was completed in November of that year. Tesoro Corporation acquired USA Gasoline and approximately 140 retail stations in 2007. Tesoro subsequently renamed itself Andeavor in 2017. Marathon Petroleum acquired Andeavor in 2018, placing USA Gasoline within Marathon's broader retail and marketing structure. Further network changes followed: in 2011, 51 Albertsons Express stores and Mirastar stations were converted to USA Gasoline, and in 2012 approximately 250 ARCO and Thrifty Oil locations adopted the USA Gasoline identity after BP declined to renew the associated leases. From 2019 onward, many USA Gasoline sites were converted to Speedway or Speedway Express following Marathon's acquisition of Andeavor. Speedway Express served as a lower-volume format for some locations that lacked a full convenience store or were not considered suitable for standard Speedway operations. Marathon later sold Speedway to 7-Eleven in 2021. As of 2025, the USA Gasoline name remained visible at a number of Southern California stations, although many had received red visual elements resembling Speedway branding. The last reported USA Gasoline locations in Wyoming, which had originated as conversions of early Albertsons Express sites, had closed. The current legal ownership and future of the residual brand are not established by the supplied sources.
- 2025
Residual Southern California presence
[1]Some stations continued using the USA Gasoline name, primarily in Southern California, while remaining Wyoming locations had closed.
- 2021
Speedway is acquired by 7-Eleven
[1]7-Eleven acquired Speedway from Marathon Petroleum, affecting the ownership context of many former USA Gasoline locations.
- 2019
Conversions to Speedway formats begin
[1]Many USA Gasoline sites began changing to Speedway or Speedway Express after the Marathon-Andeavor transaction.
- 2018
Andeavor acquired by Marathon Petroleum
[1]Marathon Petroleum acquired Andeavor, including the USA Gasoline business within the acquired portfolio.
- 2017
Tesoro becomes Andeavor
[1]USA Gasoline's parent company changed its corporate name from Tesoro to Andeavor.
- 2007
Acquisition by Tesoro
[1]Tesoro Corporation acquired USA Gasoline and approximately 140 retail stations.
- 1993
Headquarters moves to Agoura Hills
[1]The headquarters moved again, from Ventura to Agoura Hills.
- 1992
Headquarters moves to Ventura
[1]USA Petroleum moved its headquarters from Santa Monica to Ventura.
- 1976
Sears station conversions begin
[1]Sears stations began converting to USA Gasoline, with the process continuing into 1977.
- 1975
UCO station conversions begin
[1]UCO stations began changing to the USA Gasoline brand, with the conversion continuing through 1976.
Products and positioning
A regional, convenience-oriented fuel-station brand serving motorists through branded gasoline and diesel outlets.
Fuel retail
USA Gasoline branded fuel stations
The core offering is a network of branded fueling locations selling gasoline to motorists. Historically, the network operated across multiple western U.S. states and included both company-associated stations and locations obtained through conversions or portfolio transactions. By 2025, the remaining documented presence was concentrated mainly in Southern California.
Motor fuel
Diesel fuel
Diesel was among the typical fuels associated with USA Gasoline stations. The supplied material does not identify specific grades, additive programs, or proprietary diesel formulations.
Motor fuel
Gasoline
Gasoline retailing is the brand's principal consumer offering. The company historically operated conventional gasoline stations and also experimented with automated payment systems designed to make fueling more self-service.
Controversies
2003
Leaking fuel tanks and alleged contamination
USA Petroleum agreed to pay $325,000 to settle a dispute involving leaking tanks and alleged groundwater and soil pollution at ten USA Gasoline stations in Ventura County.
1994
Finance director embezzlement case
Former finance director Marvin Jay Caukin was sentenced to 33 months in prison in connection with the embezzlement of nearly $2.4 million from the company.
Brand decisions
2019
Conversion of locations to Speedway and Speedway ExpressStrategyBackground
Marathon Petroleum reviewed the retail network after acquiring USA Gasoline's parent company, Andeavor.
Action taken
Many locations were converted to Speedway, while lower-volume or less fully equipped locations were assigned the Speedway Express format.
Aftermath
The USA Gasoline network contracted substantially, although some Southern California locations continued operating under the original name.
2012
ARCO and Thrifty Oil station conversionsStrategyBackground
BP did not renew leases associated with approximately 250 ARCO or Thrifty stations.
Action taken
Those locations were converted to the USA Gasoline brand.
Aftermath
The move substantially increased the brand's station count and presence in relevant markets.
2011
Albertsons Express and Mirastar conversionsStrategyBackground
The company expanded its branded retail presence through conversions of existing station formats.
Action taken
Fifty-one Albertsons Express stores and Mirastar stations were rebranded as USA Gasoline.
Aftermath
The conversions added locations to the USA Gasoline network, although later ownership changes led to further rebranding at many sites.
2007
Tesoro acquisitionM&ABackground
USA Gasoline was incorporated into Tesoro's western refining and fuel-marketing operations.
Action taken
Tesoro Corporation acquired USA Gasoline and approximately 140 retail stations.
Aftermath
The brand later passed into the Andeavor and Marathon Petroleum corporate structures.
2006
Sale of 122 California stations to ChevronM&ABackground
USA Petroleum announced a transaction involving a substantial portion of its California retail network.
Action taken
The company sold 122 California gasoline stations to Chevron; the deal was completed in November.
Aftermath
The sale reduced USA Petroleum's directly operated California footprint before the subsequent acquisition by Tesoro.
Sources1 sources
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