The gasoline station market in France, represented by the NAF code 47.30Z, is undergoing a historic transformation. In forty years, the national network has shrunk from 40,000 to just 11,000 points of sale. This decline has been accompanied by a strong concentration in the sector, favoring large groups. This massive concentration has marked the end of the era of small independent businesses in favor of two giants: oil companies and large retailers.
Today, fuel is no longer just a commodity, but a strategic loss leader used by food retailers to capture customer traffic. This price war is taking place in an atmosphere of «crisis rationality» where the ultra-connected motorist is hunting for every last cent of savings.
As global consumption holds steady, the sector must now pivot. Between the gradual phasing out of diesel and the European deadline of 2035, the traditional gas station is disappearing to become a multi-energy hub, combining fast electric charging and local services.
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The French gas station landscape has undergone a radical transformation in four decades. In 1980, France had approximately 40,000 points of sale. Today, this figure hovers around 11,000 stations. This decline has primarily affected small independent operators, unable to finance the environmental compliance of their tanks or to compete with the purchasing power of the sector's giants. In 2024, the gas station market was worth 7.3 billion euros, according to our initial estimates.
The dominance of large-scale food retailers (GMS) was the defining feature of this period. In 2024, large food retailers (Leclerc, Carrefour, Intermarché) captured 62.7 % of the market share by volume, compared to 59.9 % just two years earlier. Their strategy is clear: to use fuel as a loss leader. As a result, these stores make very little profit on this product, which is intended to attract customers.
Despite all the talk about the energy transition, overall road fuel consumption has shown surprising resilience. It declined by only 0.4 % between 2023 and 2024, falling from 48.0 to 47.8 million m³. However, the fuel mix is shifting: the decline in diesel’s popularity is benefiting gasoline, whose share of sales rose from 28.6 % to 31.4 % in just one year.
Sources: Xerfi, UFIP – Energy and Mobility 2024, INSEE, Epsimas
The French market is a battlefield between three profiles of players with divergent business models.
On one hand, historical oil companies like TotalEnergies, Shell, and Eni maintain control over their supply chains. They bet on the superior quality of their additive fuels to justify often higher prices.
In the center, independent distributors and branded networks (such as Avia, operated by Picoty or Thevenin & Ducrot) maintain a crucial presence, particularly on secondary routes. International players like the British EG Group or the Irish DCC also play a major role in consolidating this segment.
Finally, large supermarket chains dominate the market in terms of volume. By expanding their «fuel at cost» promotions, they have turned the act of purchasing into a mere measure of purchasing power. Despite this fierce competition, TotalEnergies remains the undisputed leader in terms of the number of retail locations. With more than 3,300 stations (representing 30 % of the national network) operating under the TotalEnergies, Access, Elan, and AS24 brands, the French group maintains an exceptional network, stretching from highways to the most remote rural areas.
Sources: Xerfi, UFIP – Energy and Mobility 2024, CPDP
The behavior of French drivers today is dictated by a form of «crisis rationality.» For 80 % of drivers, price is the absolute deciding factor when purchasing fuel. This extreme price sensitivity has eroded loyalty to traditional oil brands in favor of «penny-pinching.» Only commercial fleets remain loyal thanks to fuel cards (such as Fleet or TotalEnergies), prioritizing simplified management over immediate savings.
On average, a French household spends between €100 and €130 per month on gasoline or diesel. This amount represents about 24 % of total car-related expenses, which average €416 per month (including insurance, maintenance, and financing). Fuel accounts for 3 % to 4 % of a household’s overall budget, but this share rises sharply for households living in suburban or rural areas.
Faced with stabilized high pump prices (between €1.70 and €1.80 for SP95-E10 in 2024-2025), the French are multiplying adaptation strategies. We are observing a decrease in average highway speeds and an explosion in carpooling. These adjustments explain why, despite high prices, total household spending tends to stagnate rather than soar.
Sources: INSEE, Data roles, UFIP – Energy and Mobility 2024
The fuel market is structurally driven by travel schedules. Seasonality plays a major role: volumes explode during July and August, boosted by tourist travel. The long weekends in May also represent critical demand peaks for stock managers.
Meanwhile, digitalization has revolutionized the customer experience. Drivers no longer look for a station at random; they use their smartphones. Applications like Gasoil Now, Essence&Co or the government's official comparison tool have become essential tools. This total transparency on prices forces station managers to adjust their rates daily, sometimes several times a day, to remain competitive on search engines.
Finally, a strong trend towards revenue diversification is observed. Faced with low fuel margins, stations are transforming into service centers. Snacking, car washes, and parcel pickup lockers are becoming essential components of a modern retail outlet's profitability.
Sources: INSEE, Epsimas, Fuel Price Observatory
The gas station sector is on the cusp of its biggest transformation since the invention of the automobile. The scheduled end of internal combustion engines in Europe by 2035 requires a complete reinvention of the model. The «oil» station is giving way to the «Energy Hub.».
This change focuses on three axes:
Sources: Ministry of Ecological Transition, National Low-Carbon Strategy (SNBC)
Gas stations register under the following NAF code to conduct their business:
Retail sale of fuels in specialized stores
This subclass includes
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What this subclass doesn't understand
Source : INSEE
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