duPont REGISTRY Group (DRG) has appointed Michael Chapin as the Chief Executive Officer of Petrolicious, a renowned platform for classic and collector car content. Petrolicious, established in 2012, is known for producing high-quality videos for car enthusiasts, with its YouTube channel alone amassing 142 million views. Chapin, a seasoned entrepreneur in the automotive industry, brings a wealth of expertise in media, e-commerce, and startups, having previously founded and served as CEO of PartsHub, a cloud-based software product for the automotive aftermarket, which was later acquired by SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association). Petrolicious features exclusive automotive documentaries, short films, and original series that celebrate the art of automotive culture.
“The appointment of Michael to lead the reboot of Petrolicious is a major landmark in bringing back a name that means so much to many classic car enthusiasts,” said Antoine Tessier, CEO of duPont REGISTRY Group. “His unique background and boundless enthusiasm will play a great role in curating the essence of this valuable brand, and his team is tasked with recreating the kind of content that made its name over a decade ago.”
Acquired in 2024 by the duPont REGISTRY Group, Petrolicious has been through several ownership transitions, now landing in a portfolio of veritable automotive aficionados including duPont REGISTRY, Canossa Events, Cavallino, FerrariChat, and Sotheby’s Motorsport.
“From a young age, I was obsessed with taking cars apart and learning precisely how all the components worked,” said Chapin, noting his college days as a race mechanic. “Then, later on professionally, my obsession shifted to building businesses instead of engines. Much like a racecar, every business is a complex series of systems and subsystems, all working in perfect harmony.
“Petrolicious inspired car enthusiasts around the world and it’s important that we return to these core values of emotional storytelling. The love between a driver and their car is what transcends all cultures and backgrounds. It’s what unites us.”
