OK marks its 100th anniversary in Sweden’s mobility market, reflecting on its historical role in the fuel retail sector and its current position in the transition toward new mobility solutions.
Its story started in 1926, a time when a few international players controlled the market. As a counterpoint, Sweden's professional motorists founded a purchasing association to increase the opportunity to influence the price and supply of fuel. The association was the first of its kind in the world and ten years later, in 1936, Sweden had Europe's lowest petrol price.
The following year, there were 141 cooperative petrol associations around the country with a total of 5,000 members. In the 60s, the local associations merged to strengthen competitiveness, and in the 80s there were 26 associations.
Karin Eriksson, CEO of OKQ8, said: “We have always been at the forefront. We continue to drive the transformation of our industry forward and make the mobility of the future accessible to more people.” Today, OK operates through multiple businesses, with OKQ8 as a central component.
OK introduced several industry milestones over the decades, including the world’s first self-service fuel station in 1951 and Sweden’s first motel in 1962. In later years, it played an early role in promoting cleaner fuels, launching unleaded petrol in 1986 and installing the country’s first ethanol pump in 1994.
The company is focused on electrification and alternative energy infrastructure, including EV charging networks and hydrogen refueling. Across Sweden, Denmark and Finland, OKQ8 employs around 5,000 people and operates about 1,000 service stations, alongside car wash services, solar projects and financial services, as it continues to expand lower-emission solutions.
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