
Interstate Batteries® Through the Years
Since 1952, we have been evoking our compassionate, trustworthy spirit into our surrounding communities. With a history as rich as our brand, we have continually earned the trust of professionals through our ongoing devotion to quality and service. Our commitment holds steadfast to making a positive impact on our customers, team members and partners, now and for generations to come.

1950
John Searcy begins selling automotive batteries out of the trunk of his Studebaker pickup.

1952
Searcy founds Interstate Battery System

1961
Interstate partners with Milwaukee-based national battery manufacturer Globe-Union Inc. and introduces the “Mr. Pro” battery label and comic icon

1963
The original Interstate Battery System logo

1976
1 million batteries sold in a single year

1978
Founder John Searcy retires, hands over the reins to Norm Miller

1980
Interstate introduces the lightning bolt logo

1983
Interstate creates The Great American Race, a two-week, cross-country vintage car race with $250K in prize money and a one-hour special on ESPN

1987
Alaska distributorship opens, putting Interstate in all 50 states

1989
Interstate goes global with its first distributorship in Canada

1989
Tommy Miller named president and CEO, Norm Miller remains Chairman of the Board

1990
Interstate becomes North America’s #1 replacement battery

1991
Interstate Batteries becomes the Founding Sponsor of Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR)

1993
First Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win for JGR and Interstate Batteries, the Daytona 500, at Daytona International Speedway

1994
100 millionth battery sold

1996
Joe Gibbs inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1996

1998
In the spirit of NASCAR, Interstate debuts a racing-inspired logo

1998
First Interstate All Battery Center opens to provide Every Battery for Every Need®

2000
JGR and Interstate’s NASCAR driver Bobby Labonte wins Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship

2004
Carlos Sepulveda named president and CEO

2006
Interstate launches new automotive product line with free-replacement warranties of 18, 24 and 30 months

2007
Auto techs name Interstate "Best Battery" in an independent survey by Frost & Sullivan

2009
Interstate wins Frost & Sullivan “Overall Best Brand of Automotive Batteries” award
Interstate Batteries named to Dallas Morning News’ Top 100 Best Places to Work for first time, ranking 13th

2010
One-month sales record is set at more than 1.5 million batteries
Dallas Morning News names Interstate one of the Top 100 Best Places to Work for the second time

2011
17 million batteries sold in a 12-month period
Dallas Morning News names Interstate one of the Top 100 Best Places to Work for the third time

2012
Interstate wins Frost & Sullivan “Overall Best Brand of Automotive Batteries” award for sixth straight year
Dallas Morning News names Interstate one of the Top 100 Best Places to Work, four years running

2013
Scott Miller becomes president and CEO
Dallas Morning News names Interstate one of the Top 100 Best Places to Work, five years running

2015
JGR and Interstate’s NASCAR driver, Kyle Busch wins the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship for Interstate & M&M’s® MARS

2016
25th anniversary of JGR partnership, one of the longest-running alliances in professional sports

2017
Interstate sells a record 18 million batteries in a single year

2019
Kyle Busch wins his 2nd NASCAR Cup Championship for Interstate & M&M's® MARS®

2020
Joe Gibbs inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the only former NFL coach in 2 Halls of Fame

TODAY
Interstate seeks to deliver the most trustworthy source of power to the world every day.