What Novvi LLC does

Novvi LLC is a U.S.-based joint venture, owned equally by Amyris, American Refining Group, Chevron, and H&R (Hansen & Rosenthal Group), that manufactures 100% biobased synthetic hydrocarbons from plant-derived feedstocks as drop-in replacements for petroleum-based base oils, process oils, and specialty ingredients. The company's core technology is a three-step platform — feedstock preparation, molecular synthesis, and finishing — supported by a proprietary High Throughput Experimentation (HTE) R&D process that the company claims accelerates product development up to 60x versus competitors. Manufacturing is concentrated at a single 25,000 metric-ton-per-year facility in La Porte (Deer Park), Texas, operated by Texas Molecular Chemical.

The product portfolio spans four primary categories: SynNova-branded renewable base oils for automotive, marine, and industrial lubricants; Luxtra premium emollients for personal care and beauty applications; Novvi 4LT and immersion cooling fluids for electric vehicle thermal management and data center cooling; and Linear Alpha Olefins for downstream chemical intermediates. Novvi operates as a B2B ingredient supplier, selling direct to lubricant blenders, automotive OEMs, polymer compounders, and personal care brands, with named customers including Chevron (Havoline PRO-RS), GS Caltex (Kixx BIO1), ADNOC Distribution, Neste (Nexbase 4+), Evolve Lubricants/Porsche, Avient, TYM, and CBD Move Free. Geographic reach is delivered through channel partners, most notably Multisol/Brenntag in Europe.

The company pursues a horizontal segmentation strategy across automotive, industrial, personal care, and polymers verticals, monetizing through direct sales of base oils and process oils, specialty ingredient sales (notably Luxtra), and technology licensing. Following the February 2026 emergence from Chapter 11 restructuring, Novvi continues to operate from its corporate headquarters in Alameda, California, and its Texas manufacturing site, but its near-term growth profile is shaped by the recent financial restructuring rather than prior-year expansion momentum.

Name

Novvi LLC

Legal name

Novvi LLC

Website

https://novvi.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Novvi LLC is a joint venture that manufactures 100% biobased synthetic hydrocarbons from plant-derived feedstocks as drop-in replacements for petroleum-based base oils, lubricants, and specialty ingredients. It serves automotive, industrial, personal care, and EV thermal management markets globally through B2B sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Renewable Specialty Chemicals and Biobased Base Oils

NAICS

Petroleum Lubricating Oil and Grease Manufacturing (324191), Fats and Oils Refining and Blending (311225)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Base Oil Production & Supply (Group I–V, Re-refined) (EUALAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Process Oils & White Oils (IMAEAMAK), Marine & Offshore Lubricants (Cylinder Oils, System Oils, EALs) (EUALAJAI)

Keywords

• Renewable base oils
• Biobased synthetic hydrocarbons
• Renewable lubricants
• Biobased specialty chemicals
• EV thermal management fluids

Headquarters

HQ city

Emeryville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Renewable Base Oils: Novvi manufactures and markets 100% renewable base oils for the lubricants industry, including automotive, marine, and industrial lubricants. These are sold as drop-in replacements for petroleum-based base oils to lubricant blenders and marketers.
2. Process Oils: Production and sale of 100% renewable process oils for polymer, adhesives, and personal care industries. Includes fluids for electric vehicles, thermoplastic elastomers, wax applications, and beauty products.
3. Licensing Technology: Novvi licenses its technology platform and proprietary processes to partners. The Chevron-Novvi partnership leverages complementary technologies for hydroprocessing with renewable feedstocks to produce premium base oils.
4. Specialty Ingredients: Sale of specialty chemical ingredients including Luxtra emollients for personal care and beauty applications, and custom-engineered molecules for specific industrial applications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Novvi LLC manufactures and sells 100% biobased synthetic hydrocarbons produced from plant-derived feedstocks (soy, corn, canola, rapeseed, palm, coconut, mustard oils). Its commercial portfolio centers on SynNova renewable base oils for automotive, marine, and industrial lubricants; Luxtra premium emollients for personal care; Novvi 4LT and Immersion Cooling Fluids for electric vehicle thermal management; Linear Alpha Olefins (LAO); and renewable process oils for polymers, thermoplastic elastomers, adhesives, and wax applications. Products are drop-in replacements for petroleum-derived equivalents and are backed by a carbon-negative cradle-to-gate LCA.

Product overview

Novvi LLC is a joint venture of Amyris, American Refining Group, Chevron, and H&R that produces high-performance, 100% biobased synthetic hydrocarbons as drop-in alternatives to petroleum-based products. The company operates a technology platform that converts plant-derived feedstocks into ultra-pure chemical building blocks for various applications. The product portfolio includes SynNova brand 100% renewable base oils for lubricants (automotive, marine, industrial), Luxtra premium emollients for personal care, immersion cooling fluids and Novvi 4LT thermal management fluids for electric vehicles, process oils for polymers and adhesives, and Linear Alpha Olefins. The company's La Porte, Texas manufacturing facility has capacity of 25kT per year. Products are marketed under the SynNova brand for base oils and Luxtra for personal care ingredients, serving customers globally through distribution partnerships including Multisol/Brenntag in Europe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SynNova: 100% renewable base oil brand manufactured entirely from renewable plant oils, offering ultra-low volatility and exceptional CCS performance
• Luxtra
• Novvi Immersion Cooling Fluids
• Novvi Electric Vehicles
• Novvi LAO

Products and services

• SynNova Sustainable Synthetic Base Oil 100% renewable, plant-derived, drop-in synthetic base oils offering ultra-low volatility, exceptional CCS (cold cranking simulator) performance, and high viscosity index. Used by lubricant blenders and OEMs to formulate engine oils (0W-12, 0W-16, 0W-20, 0W-30, 5W-30), transmission fluids, hydraulic fluids, gear oils, and process oils with carbon-negative cradle-to-gate LCA.
• Luxtra Emollients Premium, intelligently designed, naturally sourced, ultra-high purity emollients for beauty and personal care applications. Non-comedogenic, biodegradable, 100% renewable carbon, and engineered for elegant textures without greasy after-feel. Supplied to personal care and CBD brand manufacturers as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-derived emollients.
• Novvi 4LT Thermal Management Fluid Dedicated thermal management fluid for electric vehicle battery and drive train applications. Combines all the lubrication properties of SynNova with superior thermal and traction properties versus polyalphaolefin (PAO), supporting low-viscosity motor oil grades and EV thermal management.
• Immersion Cooling Fluids High-performance biobased fluids designed for thermal management in electric vehicle battery immersion cooling and adjacent data center cooling applications. Marketed under the Novvi Immersion Cooling Fluids product line.
• Novvi Linear Alpha Olefins (LAO) High-performance biobased linear alpha olefins produced from plant oil feedstocks for various industrial applications, marketed under the Novvi LAO product line.
• Renewable Process Oils (Polymers, Adhesives, Wax) 100% renewable process oils for polymer, thermoplastic elastomer, adhesive, and wax applications, supplied as sustainable alternatives to crude oil-based process fluids. Used by polymer compounders to formulate bio-based TPEs (e.g., Avient reSound BIO with 35-75% bio-renewable content) and other lower-carbon plastic systems.
• House & Home Biobased Hydrocarbons Biobased synthetic hydrocarbons for household and home care applications, providing sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based ingredients in home care formulations.
• Personal Care Ingredients (Luxtra line) Biobased ingredients and emollients including the Luxtra sub-brand for beauty and personal care applications, sustainably sourced, naturally derived, non-comedogenic, and biodegradable.
• Electric Vehicle Fluids Product Line Specialized fluids for electric vehicle applications including thermal management, battery cooling, and electric drive train lubrication, marketed under the Novvi Electric Vehicles product line.

Quantifiable outcome

• Viscosity increase of essentially 0% in Sequence IIIH engine test with 100% SynNova 0W-20 ILSAC GF-6 formulation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and notable.

• CBD Move FreecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 July 2022Strategic partnership where CBD Move Free incorporates Novvi's plant-based ingredients including Luxtra emollients across its full line of topical balms. First company to deliver CBD products using Novvi's sustainable, biodegradable ingredients. Expanding into sexual wellness products.
• Neste OyjnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2021Collaboration on Nexbase 4+ base stock development. More than 60% renewable components, marketed as drop-in replacement for fossil-based Group III oils and PAO for low-viscosity engine oils. Neste produces more than 3.8 billion liters of renewable products per year.
• Multisol Ltd (Brenntag SE)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 5 July 2021European distribution partnership through Multisol Ltd, a subsidiary of Brenntag SE within Brenntag Lubricants EMEA Business Unit. Promotes Novvi's SynNova base oils across Europe, enhancing Brenntag's lower-carbon credentials alongside Chevron Group II, Neste Group III, and PAO products.
• Texas Molecular ChemicalcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTexas Molecular Chemical operates Novvi's manufacturing plant in La Porte, Texas. The partnership enables Novvi to leverage existing chemical processing infrastructure and expertise in the petrochemical manufacturing hub.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• BASF: BASF is a major chemical producer with significant bio-based and renewable specialty chemical offerings, including personal care ingredients and process oils. Broad incumbent competing across multiple Novvi verticals.
• Sasol: Sasol produces synthetic base oils and linear alpha olefins (LAOs) for the global lubricants and specialty chemicals markets. Comparable to Novvi's SynNova base oils and Novvi LAO product lines as a Fischer-Tropsch-based synthetic hydrocarbon producer.
• ExxonMobil (Mobil): ExxonMobil produces synthetic base oils (Esterex, SpectraSyn) for the global lubricants industry. Major incumbent with extensive base oil production capacity and distribution that competes with Novvi's SynNova in industrial and automotive channels.
• Shell (Shell Lubricants): Shell is one of the world's largest lubricant manufacturers with a portfolio of base oils (including synthetic and bio-based options like Shell Naturelle) serving automotive and industrial markets. Broad incumbent in the same end markets.
• Chevron (Chevron Lubricants): Chevron is both a JV partner and end customer of Novvi, marketing Novvi-manufactured base oils through Havoline PRO-RS and its own premium lubricant portfolio (e.g., Techron, Havoline). Competes with and through Novvi simultaneously.

Emerging players

• Croda International: Croda produces specialty bio-based ingredients for personal care and industrial markets, including emollients and process oils. Comparable to Novvi's Luxtra personal care offerings and process oils for polymers and industrial applications.
• Evonik Industries: Evonik's Oil Additives and Care Solutions divisions produce specialty base oils, PAO, and bio-based emollients. Comparable to Novvi in synthetic base oil production and personal care specialty ingredients.
• Amyris (now part of Givaudan): Amyris pioneered synthetic biology for renewable hydrocarbons and is a co-founder/JV partner of Novvi. Comparable technology platform for bio-based specialty ingredients, though Amyris's Ingredients business was acquired by Givaudan.

Direct peers

• Neste Oyj: Neste is the global leader in renewable diesel and produces renewable base oils (Nexbase) from biomass feedstocks. Direct competitor to Novvi in renewable Group III base oils, and is also a current collaboration partner for Nexbase 4+.

Regional players

• KLK OLEO: KLK OLEO is a major producer of oleochemicals and fatty acid derivatives from palm oil, serving personal care, lubricants, and polymer markets. Comparable as a renewable-based feedstock and ingredient supplier for overlapping applications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/novvi-llc
• Xx.com/novvillc

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Novvi LLC