concessionaria

Concessionaria is a term used in Portuguese and Italian to denote a company that holds a concession, a legal authorization granted by a public authority or by another entity to operate, manage or sell a product or service. The concessionaire assumes defined rights and obligations in the concession contract, including service standards, pricing and reporting requirements, and is subject to regulation and oversight.

In the automotive field, a concessionaria refers to an authorized car dealer that represents one or more manufacturers. These entities sell new and used vehicles, arrange financing and insurance, and provide maintenance, repairs and genuine parts under manufacturer standards. They often operate under a franchised dealership agreement that outlines branding, customer service levels and warranty obligations.

In the context of public services and infrastructure, concessionárias operate roads, airports, water or energy networks, or public transport under long-term concession agreements. They finance, construct, maintain and operate the asset and collect user fees or tariffs. Regulation seeks to ensure reliability, safety and fair pricing, and the concessionaire may face performance penalties for failures or shortfalls.

Spelling varies by language and diacritics, with concessionária used in Portuguese and concessionaria in Italian and in unaccented Portuguese texts. The term can refer to the entity itself as the holder of the concession, not only to the contract granting the rights.