BASF launches Keropur® AP 225-20, meeting U.S. TOP TIER+™ standards, enhancing engine performance, fuel economy, and emissions compliance.
BASF has announced the forthcoming launch of its next-generation Keropur® Gasoline Performance Additive Series, a significant step forward in fuel additive innovation. This advanced series is specifically designed to comply with and exceed the updated U.S. TOP TIER+™ detergent gasoline standard, which incorporates stricter performance benchmarks for modern vehicles. In addition, the formulation meets the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Lowest Additive Concentration (LAC) requirements and is expected to receive approval from the California Air Resources Board (CARB).
The flagship product, Keropur AP 225-20, is set to be commercially available well before the mandatory enforcement deadline of January 2027. By launching ahead of schedule, BASF aims to provide customers with ample lead time to prepare and transition, ensuring a smooth adoption of the new standard.
The updated TOP TIER+™ specification was introduced by leading automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to address the evolving demands of modern gasoline engines, particularly those equipped with Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) systems. These engines, while offering efficiency and performance benefits, are more prone to injector deposits and issues such as stochastic pre-ignition (SPI). To counter these challenges, the TOP TIER+™ standard includes rigorous new testing procedures focused on injector deposit control and SPI protection.
BASF’s Keropur AP 225-20 has successfully passed all these demanding assessments and is undergoing final optimization before full-scale commercialization. Its formulation leverages EPA-registered components in a simplified yet highly effective composition. Designed to ensure engine protection, the additive enhances fuel efficiency and promotes cleaner combustion across all types of fuel injection systems.
Highlighting the company’s commitment, Christian Forster, Business Director Formulations at BASF, emphasized: “Keropur AP 225-20 reflects BASF’s dedication to innovation, sustainability, and customer success. By offering a solution that meets and surpasses the rigorous TOP TIER+™ and EPA LAC requirements, we are helping our customers remain ahead of regulatory changes while simultaneously reducing environmental impact.”
To ensure a seamless rollout, BASF has outlined a comprehensive implementation strategy. Customers will be notified of final product specifications by the fourth quarter of 2025. The company will work closely with partners to develop terminal transition plans, with initial deliveries scheduled for the first half of 2026. BASF is also committing resources to infrastructure improvements at its production facilities to support the introduction of the Keropur® Gasoline Performance Additive Series on a broader scale.
With the launch of Keropur AP 225-20, BASF not only reinforces its leadership in performance fuel additives but also sets a new benchmark for sustainability, regulatory compliance, and customer support in the evolving automotive fuels market.
