Total eyes 35 'Pit Stops' in Oman by 2013-end 

(MENAFN - Muscat Daily) Total Marketing Middle East (TMME), along with its partner Towell Auto Centre (TAC) LLC, is planning to establish as many as 35 oil-change centres to cover various regions of the sultanate by the end of 2013.On Sunday, TAC and Total inaugurated three oil-change centres, to add to the eight already operating in Oman under Total's concept of oil-change-service facilities named 'Total Quartz Pit Stops.' Philippe Cabus, managing director of TMME, and S Kasthurirengan, CEO of TAC, inaugurated the three 'Pit Stops' at Bab al Dar in Ghala, Jawahrat al Apress in Barka and Bidya al Masawar in BidBid on Sunday.Speaking at a press conference at the TAC office in Ghala, Cabus said that 11 'Pit Stops' have been launched in the sultanate and 24 more will be opened by the end of 2013.''We will launch the centres in Muscat, Sohar, Salalah and remote areas to cover all the regions. TAC has been a very active partner and has, over the last decade, played an instrumental role in Total Lubricants' significant growth in the Oman market. We are very optimistic about expansion and growth in this market,'' Cabus said.''TMME, along with TAC, is making strong efforts to strengthen its presence in the retail lubricants market in Oman. Initially our focus was commercial clients, but now we are focusing on the industrial and retail segments,'' added Cabus. Kasthurirengan said that TAC is working on a plan to establish at least 35 'Pit Stops' across Oman by the end of 2013.''As of today, there are eleven 'Pit Stops' across the sultanate. The 'Pit Stop' concept was launched in 2012 and within a short span of time Total opened more than 32 locations across the GCC. Total's portfolio of customers in Oman include major oil and gas companies, fleet customers, industrial houses and retail customers.