TotalFinaElf will make a new ultra low sulfur gasoline available to motorists at the beginning of 2001. It will be for use in passenger cars with new lean-burn direct-injection engines. This new generation of engines, currently on exhibition at the Mondial de l’Automobile Show being held in Paris, will soon be commercialized in Europe.

Car manufacturers favor this new technology to significantly reduce gasoline consumption and thus limiting carbon dioxide emissions, the gas which contributes the most to the greenhouse effect. Optimal performance of these direct-injection engines is obtained with the use of ultra low sulfur gasolines.

TotalFinaElf formulated the new gasoline in order to meet this demand. It contains less than 0.001% of sulfur (10 grams per ton) or 15 times less than gasolines presently sold on the market.

This new gasoline will first be made available to motorists in about 100 Total and Elf service stations located in principal urban areas. Sales are planned to be progressively extended in all of France and Europe as the new generation of direct injection vehicles is put on the market.

With the launching of this new ultra low sulfur gasoline, TotalFinaElf confirms its innovative role regarding product quality, by adapting its products to new, clean and fuel-saving automotive technologies.