Seeking the ultimate pit stops in Buenos Aires to fuel your car and your spirit alike, whether you’re a globe-trotting digital nomad, an eager traveler soaking up every corner of the city, or an expat looking for reliable fuel stations?
ExpatPathways brings you a meticulously crafted list highlighting The Most Important Fuel Stations in the City, ensuring you’re never left stranded.
Our comprehensive guide goes beyond the pump, showcasing stations from the titan chains of YPF, Shell, and Axion to the cost-effective and quaint white flag stations dotting the urban and suburban landscapes.
Let us guide you to not only the best spots for refueling but also to those offering exceptional conveniences and perks, making each stop a seamless part of your Buenos Aires adventure.
The Most Important Fuel Stations in the City
1. YPF
YPF, with its rich history as Argentina’s leading oil company, encompasses a vast network of approximately 1,555 gas stations nationwide, capturing a substantial market share of 31.1%.
As a vertically integrated company, YPF oversees the entire hydrocarbon chain from extraction to retail, employing over 100,000 individuals directly or indirectly. Its premium fuel, Infinia, boasts international certifications for friction reduction, offering enhanced vehicle performance and protection.
YPF further enhances customer experience through YPF FULL stores at its stations, a benefits program, a mobile app, and mechanical terminals for vehicle check-ups, ensuring a comprehensive service offering.
YPF Main Fuels
- Infinia
- Super
- Infinia Diesel
- Ultradiesel
- Diesel 500
YPF Services
- YPF Full
- YPF Serviclub
- YPF Boxes
- YPF App
- Lubricants
- YPF Map
2. Shell
Shell, a global energy giant with a century-long presence in Argentina, continues to invest in the country through exploration, production, and the expansion of its Buenos Aires refinery and service station network.
Holding approximately 15% of the market share with around 800 stations, Shell is committed to high performance and quality with its Shell V-Power Nitro+ fuels.
The company fosters a culture of innovation and challenge, aiming to contribute to Argentina’s development through world-class human and technological resources. Shell Select stores at each station provide customers with a range of products and services, adding value to the fueling experience.
Shell Main Fuels
- Shell V-Power Diesel
- Shell V-Power Nafta (Gasoline)
- Shell Evolux Diesel
Shell Services
3. Axion Energy
Axion, a brand under Pan American Energy, represents a modern and customer-focused approach to fuel retailing. Investing $1.5 billion in refining and distribution infrastructure, Axion markets high-quality fuels such as QUANTIUM, known for its efficiency and engine-cleaning properties.
With more than 9,200 direct employees and over 600 stations, Axion leads in innovation, being the first to offer electric vehicle chargers in Argentina.
Its commitment to meeting current and future consumer needs is evident in its broad service offering, including the AXION energy AGRO network and AXION card for transportation.
Each Axion Spot store provides unique benefits to customers, emphasizing the company’s dedication to an integrated service experience.
Axion Main Fuels
Axion Services
4. Puma & DAPSA
Beyond the dominion of major fuel station chains such as YPF, Shell, and Axion, Buenos Aires hosts a variety of smaller and independent fuel stations that cater to the city’s diverse automotive fuel needs.
Companies like Puma and Dapsa, despite not matching the sheer scale of the larger players, maintain their own networks of service stations, offering consumers additional choices for fueling their vehicles.
These smaller chains, while less prevalent in the numbers game, play a crucial role in the fuel supply chain, providing competition and diversity in the market.
5. “White flag” stations
Additionally, Buenos Aires is home to independent, non-exclusive gas and fuel stations, often referred to as “white flag” stations. These independents are not tied to any major oil operator or refinery through branding agreements.
Instead, they operate under their own brands, often managed by small business owners who market the fuel under a proprietary label.
Many of these stations have transitioned from being affiliated with well-known brands, adopting “fantasy names” and altering their visual identity, either by maintaining similar colors or completely revamping their appearance.
Primarily found in the Province of Buenos Aires, especially towards the West and South, these white flag stations tend to offer more competitive pricing. However, it’s important to note that the fuel quality may not always match that of the larger, more established chains.
These stations represent a vital component of the city’s fuel ecosystem, offering alternatives for consumers seeking budget-friendly options and contributing to the overall diversity of Buenos Aires’ fuel station landscape.
(Featured Image Source: Jean-christophe Gougeon/unsplash.com)
