French energy giant TotalEnergies has announced the sale of its networks of nearly 1,200 filling stations in Germany and 392 stations in the Netherlands to Canadian firm Couche-Tard. In Belgium and Luxembourg, both companies plan to form a joint venture to operate Total’s 619 petrol stations. However, all four networks will continue to use the TotalEnergies brand, but only so long as Total supplies them with fuel for at least five years.
The reason behind the sale is the European Union’s ambition to achieve climate neutrality and the planned ending of sales of new combustion cars from 2035. TotalEnergies is making changes in its fuel station networks, which have suffered significant revenue losses due to declining fuel sales. This has been brought on by the growing popularity of electric cars that are often charged at home or the company location instead of the charging stations of gas stations.
Hence, gas stations will need to be transformed into more than mere fuel sales points in the future. Instead, they should become service and lounging places with shops, restaurants, and other facilities. This is where Couche-Tard comes in. The company is known for its expertise in operating convenience stores alongside gas stations, which makes it a suitable partner for TotalEnergies’ vision.
Once the transformation is complete, visitors can enjoy various services that will make gas stations a one-stop-shop for their needs. By partnering with Couche-Tard, TotalEnergies looks to bounce back from its declining revenue losses and attract customers through its unique services.
