Our History
Our History: 100 Years of Pioneering Spirit
"Born in 1924 to guarantee France's energy independence, our Company has always been driven by a fierce pioneering spirit. Throughout our history, we have constantly adapted to meet the challenges of our century and the changing needs of our customers."
The Birth of Compagnie Française des Pétroles (CFP)
On March 28, 1924, Ernest Mercier founded the Compagnie Française des Pétroles in France. Created from scratch following the aftermath of World War I, the company’s absolute priority was to secure a reliable and independent supply of oil for the country, marking the official beginning of a major industrial journey.
Launching the Iconic TOTAL Brand
In 1954, the group created the TOTAL brand to market fuel and lubricants directly to the public. The famous red and blue logo quickly became a symbol of reliability and superior technology across Europe and Africa, setting up a massive international distribution and service station network.
Mergers with Fina and Elf Aquitaine
At the turn of the century, Total executed historic mergers first with Petrofina (becoming TotalFina) and subsequently with Elf Aquitaine (becoming TotalFinaElf, then renamed Total in 2003). These combined industrial forces propelled the group into the top tier of global oil and gas supermajors, uniting incredible engineering talent and advanced chemical expertise.
Transformation into TotalEnergies
To anchor its historic transition towards a multi-energy company and its commitment to carbon neutrality, the shareholders anchored a historical change by renaming the corporation TotalEnergies. The plural "Energies" stands at the heart of our new identity: oil, natural gas, electricity, hydrogen, biomass, and renewables.
A Century of Tribology & Lubricant Excellence
Our history is also the history of mechanical performance. From early motor oils in Western Europe to the current ultra-high-tech synthetic formulations like Quartz and Rubia, TotalEnergies has spent a century innovating alongside the world's finest automotive and industrial manufacturers. By formulating and producing our fluids ourselves, we ensure our historical legacy continues into the future of electric and hybrid drivetrains.