The company’s current website describes AUTOSOL as having 90 years of experience and emphasizes product development, laboratory quality control, environmental considerations, and professional-grade surface care.1

1929 — The beginning

The history of AUTOSOL begins with Otto Durst in Germany in 1929. Historical material from the company describes the original business as a small chemical operation developing cleaning products. One of its early products was the “Grüne Kegel” (Green Cone), followed by the “Weiße Kegel” (White Cone).1

The company’s early products were not initially focused exclusively on automobiles. They were concerned more broadly with cleaning and polishing surfaces.

1930s — Development of metal-cleaning products

During the 1930s, the company developed products for household and metal cleaning. In 1934, a stove-top cleaning paste was packaged in tubes and marketed under the name Edelglanz. The product subsequently evolved into the DURSOL metal-polish line.1

This history is important because AUTOSOL’s expertise in automotive detailing grew out of an earlier specialization in metal and surface polishing, rather than the company having originally been a conventional car-care company.

1949 — Second generation

Following World War II, Elisabeth Durst took over the company and helped guide its expansion. According to company historical material, this period marked the transition from a relatively small German operation toward a more internationally oriented business.1

1950s — AUTOSOL emerges

The automobile boom provided the opportunity for the brand that would eventually become internationally recognized.

In 1950, DURSOL introduced AUTOSOL Edel-Chromglanz, a product aimed specifically at automobile owners and enthusiasts. The brand subsequently became increasingly associated with chrome and metal care.1

In 1953, AUTOSOL® was registered as an international brand, and in 1955 it appeared at the International Automotive Exhibition (IAA) in Frankfurt. The company then expanded its automotive-care portfolio during the following years.1

1960s–1980s — Expansion

AUTOSOL increasingly developed products beyond its original metal-polishing niche.

The company states that it developed products for the automatic car-wash market in 1968. Later, in 1988, Dr. Andreas Durst became company head, representing the third generation of family leadership.1

1990s–2010s — Diversification

Over subsequent decades, the product portfolio expanded into areas including:

• Marine care
• Motorcycle care
• Industrial cleaning
• Automotive detailing
• Household surface care
• Professional polishing and protection

This transformed AUTOSOL from essentially a metal-polish brand into a broader surface-care and vehicle-care brand.12

2020s — Sustainability and new formulations

AUTOSOL has continued introducing new products and formulations.

One notable development was AUTOSOL Natural Metal Polish, which the company describes as a natural-oriented metal polish developed using recycled raw materials. The company also promotes a “Microplastic Free” environmental designation for qualifying formulations.2

Its current catalog includes newer products such as Metal Power Cream, Metal Liquid Guard, and Quick Metal Protection, alongside the classic Metal Polish.1

AUTOSOL Metal Polish

The product most strongly associated with the brand is AUTOSOL Metal Polish, a polishing paste designed to clean, restore and shine metal surfaces.

The manufacturer’s current product information describes the classic polish as suitable for metal surfaces including:

• Chrome
• Stainless steel
• Aluminum
• Copper
• Brass
• Other metal surfaces

It is designed to remove contamination, oxidation and surface rust while producing a high-gloss finish and leaving a degree of surface protection.1

The product’s historical reputation is particularly strong among classic-car owners, motorcycle enthusiasts, metalworkers and detailing enthusiasts.

An independent museum/conservation reference describes AUTOSOL Metal Polish as an abrasive paste containing fine-grain aluminum oxide and notes its historical use on metals such as aluminum, stainless steel, brass, copper, chrome and nickel.3

AUTOSOL’s modern range is considerably broader than its traditional metal polish.

1. Metal Care

This remains the heart of the brand.

Products target surfaces such as:

• Chrome
• Stainless steel
• Aluminum
• Anodized aluminum
• Gold
• Silver
• Brass
• Copper

The company’s current range includes classic Metal Polish, Metal Polish Super Gloss, Natural Metal Polish, liquid metal-care products and protective products.1

2. Car Care

AUTOSOL produces products for numerous parts of a vehicle, including:

• Paint
• Wheels
• Tires
• Glass
• Headlights
• Interior surfaces
• Engine compartments

Thus, the brand has evolved from a metal-polish specialist into a complete automotive-care supplier.1

3. Motorcycle Care

Motorcycle products cover areas such as:

• Paint
• Wheels
• Tires
• Headlights
• Engines
• Chains
• Exhaust systems

This category is particularly logical for AUTOSOL because motorcycles contain significant amounts of exposed metal, chrome and polished components.1

4. Marine Care

The marine range is designed for boats and marine equipment, covering surfaces and components such as:

• Gelcoat
• Metal
• Plastic
• Teak
• Fenders
• Bilges1

5. Industrial Care

AUTOSOL also supplies cleaning and surface-care products for professional and industrial environments. These are intended for equipment, machinery and other industrial applications rather than ordinary consumer detailing alone.2

6. Agricultural Cleaners

The company has a dedicated agricultural-cleaning category aimed at commercial vehicles and agricultural equipment.1

7. Ceramic Series

AUTOSOL’s professional range includes ceramic-based surface protection products intended primarily for commercial/professional users.1

8. Dynamic Series

The Dynamic Series consists of professional automotive polishing products designed for commercial users and detailing applications.1

AUTOSOL is closely associated with Solingen, a German city historically famous for metalworking and cutlery manufacturing.

The manufacturer is:

Dursol Fabrik Otto Durst GmbH & Co. KG

Its listed address is:

Martinstraße 22, 42655 Solingen, Germany.1

The company’s own materials prominently emphasize “Made in Germany”, and its current catalog identifies AUTOSOL products with German manufacturing credentials.1

This German manufacturing heritage is an important component of the brand’s positioning.

AUTOSOL places considerable emphasis on quality control and product development.

The company says that its products are developed through its research-and-development activities and are subjected to continuous quality control. It also states that several products have received awards from Monde Selection, including gold medals.1

Some AUTOSOL products have also been associated with NSF registration, which is relevant for products used in environments such as food-processing facilities, commercial kitchens and related applications.1

Importantly, this does not mean every AUTOSOL product is automatically appropriate for food-contact surfaces; the specific product’s certification and intended use should always be checked.

Environmental considerations have become a more visible part of AUTOSOL’s modern branding.

The company says that it has introduced a Microplastic Free designation for products formulated without microplastics. It also highlights biodegradability and compliance with applicable environmental requirements among its product-development priorities.2

The Natural Metal Polish represents another part of this strategy, with the company describing it as being made using recycled raw materials and designed to avoid aggressive chemicals.1

AUTOSOL is no longer simply a German domestic brand.

Its products are distributed internationally, with regional distributors and dedicated websites serving different markets. For example, AUTOSOL’s South African operation describes a distribution network covering more than 70 countries and three manufacturing sites worldwide.4

The brand’s international reputation is particularly associated with its metal polish, which has become a recognizable product among automotive and motorcycle enthusiasts.

AUTOSOL occupies an interesting position in the car-care market.

It is simultaneously:

• A traditional German metal-polish brand
• An automotive detailing brand
• A professional surface-care supplier
• A motorcycle-care brand
• A marine-care brand
• An industrial cleaning-product manufacturer

Its strongest differentiation is its long history with metal polishing.

Many modern detailing companies began with automotive paint correction, ceramic coatings or general car-care chemicals. AUTOSOL’s heritage is almost the opposite: metal polishing came first, and automotive care grew around it.

One point that can cause confusion is the word “polish.”

AUTOSOL Metal Polish is not simply a conventional automotive paint polish.

Its classic Metal Polish is primarily intended for metal surfaces, whereas paint-polishing compounds are designed specifically for automotive clear coats and painted surfaces.

For example:

AUTOSOL Metal Polish → chrome, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, copper, etc.

Automotive paint polish/compound → painted panels and clear coat

Using a metal polish indiscriminately on painted or delicate surfaces can therefore be inappropriate. The manufacturer’s instructions for the particular product should be followed.

Several factors explain the brand’s longevity:

Long history

The brand’s roots go back to 1929, giving it almost a century of accumulated product-development history.1

Signature product

The classic AUTOSOL Metal Polish has become much more recognizable than many individual products in the broader detailing market.

German manufacturing identity

“Made in Germany” remains a major part of AUTOSOL’s identity and marketing.1

Strong niche expertise

Rather than being known merely as a generic cleaner, AUTOSOL built a particularly strong reputation around metal restoration and polishing.

Expansion into professional markets

The brand has expanded from household and enthusiast applications into automotive, marine, industrial and commercial applications.

As of 2026, AUTOSOL’s official catalog encompasses a broad portfolio spanning metal care, car care, ceramic products, agricultural cleaners, motorcycle care, bicycle care, marine care and industrial cleaners.1

The company’s current branding still places metal treatment at the center of its identity, describing itself as “Worldwide No. 1 in Metal Treatment.”1

The official German company site is autosol.de, while its current catalog is available through the AUTOSOL 2026 Catalogue on the same domain.1

1. COMPANY – AUTOSOL
2. About – AUTOSOL
3. Autosol Metal Polish – CAMEO
4. About Us – AUTOSOL® South Africa