Successful bet for the Paris-Rhin-Rhône motorways (APRR). After having launched in 2019 on its network, its first low-cost petrol station, called Fulli, the motorway is repeating with the opening in April 2021 of five new low-cost stations. "We are going to take advantage of the concession renewal of 18 of our 97 areas to extend the network of Fulli stations, which will take the place of Avia, Shell Total, BP and Esso stations," announces Véronique Tallon, APRR customer manager.
According to the motorway, in one year, the blue station met its commitment. "Overall, it posted prices lower by 10 cents to 15 cents per liter compared to other stations," said Guillaume Herent, deputy general manager of APRR. We are flirting with the prices of large retailers. And customers see the difference. At Fulli, they fill up rather than wait until they get home. "
In a year, the A6 will have two Fulli stations. One in each direction. The first one already installed, in the Dracé area (Rhône), 50 km north of Lyon. The second in Saint-Ambreuil (Saône-et-Loire), about ten kilometers south of Chalon-sur-Saône. The other four are spread over the 2,300 km of expressways between Paris, Lyon and eastern France managed by APRR. "We are trying to have consistency, that there is a Fulli station in each direction of traffic," continues Véronique Tallon. Thus, on the A36, the station located south of Montbéliard (Doubs), will be accessible in both directions. On the A5, two stations will be located on either side of the motorway, halfway between Evry (Essonne) and Sens (Yonne). Finally, the last will be installed on the A31, 20 km south of Dijon (Côte-d'Or).
Restricted intermediaries and no premium fuel
"The goal is not to put Fulli everywhere," defends Véronique Tallon. But that motorists have the choice between different styles of station. By 2026, APRR plans to install fifteen low-cost stations, or 15% of the total network. Something to worry historic leaders like Total, BP or Shell. "We don't want to harm the tankers," says the deputy director of APRR. With Total, it was a bit complicated. The area ( Editor's note: Dracé ) has been under concession for more than 40 years. It seemed to belong to them. They started legal proceedings which were all lost. Everything we have done is perfectly legal. ”
To succeed in offering attractive prices, while respecting the obligations of a motorway station (opening and human presence 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, possibility of accessing free toilets, etc.), Fulli has restricts the number of intermediaries and does not offer premium fuel such as Excellium. The installation of these low-cost stations is part of a more global strategy. "We asked the State to think about a new network," explains Guillaume Herent.
At the center of concerns: profitability. APRR is considering, for example, reducing the number of fuel stations, by keeping only the catering section on certain motorway areas.
