‘Shell working to sell French motorway service stations’
British oil and gas company Shell is looking into selling its network of petrol stations along French motorways. This reports the French business newspaper Les Echos.
The possible sale involves about 60 locations along motorways and around 40 employees. Although the company has not yet publicly announced the plans, employees, suppliers and concessionaires are said to have been informed in the meantime, Les Echos reports.
The petrol stations in question are not directly owned by Shell, but are operated through concessionaires such as Vinci, Cofiroute and ASF. In doing so, Shell provides, among other things, fuel deliveries, shop supplies and technical support. According to the French newspaper, the stations posted an operating profit of 108.5 million euros in 2025.
‘Fear of complete departure’
Shell employees fear that the sale is a prelude to a complete departure of the company from France. In recent years, Shell has scaled back its electric charging station business, retaining only charging points along motorways. The company also pulled out of projects on green hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuels.
According to Les Echos, Shell expects to select a buyer in the third quarter, after which the transaction could be completed in early 2027.
Last week, Shell presented its figures for the first quarter of 2026. This showed that the oil giant’s profits had doubled considerably compared to the fourth quarter of 2025, due to the turmoil in the energy market caused by the war in the Middle East.
Also read:
- Shell acquires Canadian oil and gas producer for 13.6 billion
- Shell sees number of its own charging points rise sharply by 2025, number of filling stations down slightly
- Deposit network greatly expanded: now hand in empty bottles and cans at 500 Shell service stations
