Astm grows in Brazil: new 30-year concession in the Sao Paulo area

Astm (Gavio Group), the country's second-largest motorway concessionaire and one of the world's leading operators of motorway networks under concession, is further consolidating its presence in Brazil. Through its Brazilian subsidiary EcoRodovias, the company from Tortona (Alessandria) won the tender to manage the Nova Raposo motorway system for the next 30 years, which covers 92 kilometres in the metropolitan area of Sao Paulo. Thanks to this new award, Astm confirms its position as the leading motorway operator in Brazil and the world leader in the sector, managing a total of approximately 5,900 kilometres of network, of which more than 4,800 in Brazil.

Says Umberto Tosoni, Astm's CEO: "The new concession ensures significant cash flows from the start of operations in March 2025 and extends the average life of the Astm group's portfolio. This award confirms our ability to expand in key markets, consolidating our commitment to bring innovation and value to the countries where we operate. Together with EcoRodovias, a leader in the motorway sector in Brazil, we are in fact a key player in the country's development, improving infrastructure with a technological and sustainable approach, as demonstrated by the introduction of the Free Flow barrier-free tolling system, which allows significant improvements in the travel experience in terms of safety and respect for the environment".

Astm launched this innovative payment method in September both in Italy, on the A33 Asti-Cuneo motorway, and in Brazil on the SP-333 motorway, managed by Econoroeste, part of the EcoRodovias group.

Free Flow brings advantages from many points of view: in the reduction of journey times, ensuring smoother traffic flow; in terms of environmental impact, reducing both air and noise pollution; and in terms of safety. In fact, the system drastically reduces the possibility of sudden traffic jams and tailbacks near toll stations.

Based on the S*GATE technology developed by Sinelec, the Free Flow toll system allows payment without stopping or slowing down at barriers, simply by passing under portals positioned along the route that record the transit of vehicles. The solution combines the use of AI and 3D vehicle identification, applied to real-time analysis of video streams, ensuring the highest level of accuracy and detection.