What Cenovia does

Cenovia is a French mixed-economy company (Société d'Économie Mixte, SEM) headquartered in Le Mans, operating as the integrated urban development, construction, and infrastructure arm of Le Mans Métropole. The group is structured around five business lines: Cénovia Cités (a Société Publique Locale handling urban planning, public facility construction, and infrastructure delivery), Cénovia Park (parking management across 16 sites under a 10-year delegated service concession worth €52 million), Cénovia Énergies (renewable energy development including the 114-installation Le Mans Sun solar joint venture producing 33 GWh/year and the Modul'O biogas unit producing up to 10 GWh/year), Cénovia Port du Mans (river tourism and port operations generating 3,900 electric boat tours in 2024), and Foncière Le Mans Métropole (a 2022-vintage SAS vehicle for commercial, office, and activity real estate acquisition and rental). The company operates five wholly-owned subsidiaries plus two joint ventures (Le Mans Sun with SeeYouSun, and SAS Soleil Citoyen Sarthois with Enercoop Pays de la Loire and Énergie Partagée Investissement), and employed 65 collaborators as of late 2024.

The company's core technology and project capabilities span urban development project management, public infrastructure construction (Chronolignes BRT at €176 million total investment), smart parking systems with camera-based guidance and EV charging, photovoltaic deployment across parking canopies, sports facilities, and ground-mounted farms, urban methanisation of food waste, and a digital private-parking rental platform (Le Mans Parkings Partagés). Underlying technology is concentrated in IoT and operational systems rather than proprietary software platforms; the Le Mans Parkings Partagés platform is developed with external startup partner Prends Ma Place.

Cenovia monetises through professional services and recurring concession revenues: public procurement contracts and DSP fees from Le Mans Métropole and member municipalities for urban development and construction; parking fees, EV charging, and ancillary services under the renewed parking concession; project development fees and equity stakes in solar/biogas project companies; commercial and office rents from the Foncière portfolio (first lease signed 2026, deliveries extending to 2028); and boat leases, mooring rentals, and event income from Port du Mans. Customer acquisition is sales-led and procurement-driven, anchored by the public-sector master counterparty and supplemented by direct property leasing, physical parking facilities, and the digital parking marketplace. Leadership transitioned from Jacques Gouffé to Fabienne Lagarde as Présidente in June 2026, with Loïc Sévin serving as Directeur Général Délégué since May 2023.

Name

Cenovia

Legal name

CENOVIA

Website

https://cenovia.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cenovia is a French mixed-economy urban development company (SEM) in Le Mans operating five subsidiaries that deliver urban planning, public construction, parking, renewable energy, real estate, and port management services primarily to Le Mans Métropole and member municipalities through public procurement and long-term concessions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Urban Development & Public Infrastructure Services

NAICS

Management of Companies and Enterprises (5511), Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)

SIC

Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552), General Bldg Contractors - Nonresidential Bldgs (1540)

akta.pro primary industry

Construction Management & General Contracting (EPCM, Scheduling, QA/QC, HSE) (EUAMAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Solar Balance-of-Plant EPC (Piles/Foundations, Trenching, Combiner Networks) (EUAEADAJ), Civil & Site Works EPC (Earthworks, Roads, Drainage, Foundations) (EUAEADAA), Environmental & Permitting Execution Services (Erosion Control, Habitat Mitigation, Compliance) (EUAEADAL)

Keywords

• Urban development services
• Public infrastructure construction
• Parking management operations
• Renewable energy development
• Commercial real estate leasing

Headquarters

HQ city

Le Mans

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Public Infrastructure Development and Construction: Revenue generated through public procurement contracts, delegated service agreements (DSP), and direct contracts with Le Mans Métropole and member municipalities for urban development, public equipment construction, and infrastructure projects.
2. Parking Management Concession: Cenovia Park operates parking facilities under a delegated service concession from Le Mans Métropole. The 10-year renewed concession covers 16 parking facilities with 52 million euro in projected revenue. Income derives from parking fees, EV charging, and ancillary services.
3. Real Estate Portfolio Management (Foncière Le Mans Métropole): Cenovia established the Foncière Le Mans Métropole SAS in 2022 to acquire, manage, and valorise commercial and business real estate assets. Revenue comes from commercial leases, office rentals, and activity space leases. First commercial lease signed in 2026.
4. Renewable Energy Project Development: Cenovia Énergies develops solar, biogas, and other renewable energy projects. Revenue model includes project development fees, equity stakes in project companies, and long-term energy production contracts. Le Mans Sun has deployed 114 installations with 40M€ investment.
5. Port and River Tourism Operations: Cenovia Port du Mans operates the Port du Mans under a delegated service agreement, generating revenue from boat leases, electric boat tours (3,900 tours in 2024), boat resident moorings (27 residents), and port events including the annual 'Noël au Port' festival.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cenovia is a French mixed-economy public development company (SEM) that delivers urban planning, public infrastructure construction, parking and mobility services, renewable energy project development, commercial real estate management, and river tourism operations for Le Mans Métropole and member municipalities. Operating through five subsidiaries (Cénovia Cités, Cénovia Park, Cénovia Énergies, Cénovia Port du Mans, and Foncière Le Mans Métropole) and joint ventures (Le Mans Sun and SAS Soleil Citoyen Sarthois), the company combines construction project management with long-term operational concessions.

Product overview

Cenovia is a French public development company operating as an urban planner, promoter, and constructor based in Le Mans, France. The company operates through five interconnected business divisions: Cénovia Cités (urban planning and public infrastructure), Cenovia Park (parking and mobility management), Cénovia Énergies (renewable energy development), Cénovia Port du Mans (river tourism and port services), and property/real estate services through the Foncière Le Mans Métropole. The portfolio includes the Le Mans Parkings Partagés platform for shared parking, the Chronolignes public transport improvement project, and joint ventures Le Mans Sun and SAS Soleil Citoyen Sarthois for solar energy deployment. The company manages over 60 development operations and employs 65 collaborators.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cénovia Cités: Public limited company (SPL) specialized in urban development and public equipment construction for local authorities
• Cénovia Park
• Cénovia Énergies
• Cénovia Port du Mans
• Foncière Le Mans Métropole
• Le Mans Parkings Partagés
• Le Mans Sun

Products and services

• C\u00e9novia Cit\u00e9s Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 Publique Locale (SPL) providing urban development, master planning, land development, and public equipment construction services for local authorities and municipalities in Le Mans M\u00e9tropole.
• C\u00e9novia Park Parking management and mobility solutions subsidiary operating 16 parking facilities (including the 421-space P4 Hospital silo) under a 10-year delegated service concession from Le Mans M\u00e9tropole, with EV charging, camera-based space guidance, and dynamic wayfinding.
• C\u00e9novia \u00c9nergies Renewable energy development subsidiary developing solar photovoltaic installations, hydrogen stations, heating networks, wind energy, and CNG stations across the Le Mans M\u00e9tropole territory. Created with 9 M€+ capital alongside Banque des Territoires and banking partners.
• C\u00e9novia Port du Mans Port management and river tourism services on the Sarthe river under a delegated public service agreement, offering electric boat tours, boat resident moorings, and port events including the annual 'Noël au Port' festival.
• Fonci\u00e8re Le Mans M\u00e9tropole SAS real estate company for acquisition, management, and valorization of commercial, office, and activity building assets, operating as investor or co-investor in business real estate across Le Mans developments including Quartier Gare, Quartier des Sablons, and ZAC du Fouillet.
• Le Mans Parkings Partag\u00e9s Digital platform enabling private parking space owners to rent their spaces temporarily, addressing urban parking needs in Le Mans M\u00e9tropole through a sharing economy model.
• Chronolignes Bus rapid transit infrastructure project improving the three most-used bus lines (C4, C5, C6) with 13 km of dedicated lanes, upgraded public spaces, cycling infrastructure, and a hydrogen bus fleet. 176 M€ total investment.

Quantifiable outcome

• 114 solar installations producing 33 GWh/year, equivalent to 14,700 inhabitants' electricity consumption (Le Mans Sun)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SAS Soleil Citoyen SarthoiscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 September 2025SAS Soleil Citoyen Sarthois is a multi-shareholder company created by Cénovia Énergies, Enercoop Pays de la Loire, and Énergie Partagée Investissement. Presided by Éric Bureau (DG of Enercoop Pays de la Loire), the company develops citizen-owned ground-mounted solar projects in Sarthe. Three projects are underway at Allonnes, Domfront-en-Champagne, and La Chapelle Saint-Rémy. The model emphasises democratic governance and citizen participation in energy transition.
• Le Mans Sarthe Basket (MSB)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 April 2025Cenovia organised a team cohesion event at Le Mans Sarthe Basket facilities on 1 April 2025, involving workshops with professional players (Pape-Philippe Amagou) and coach Guillaume Vizade. The partnership reinforces team spirit and community ties. MSB players participate in internal competitions during the event.
• TransamocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 December 2024Transamo is the operational partner in the Chronolignes bus rapid transit project consortium alongside Cenovia. The consortium (Cénovia-Transamo) is responsible for project management, infrastructure delivery, and BRT system implementation. Transamo brings specialised public transport consulting and project management expertise. The group is also executing the tramway maintenance extension project.
• ANCT (Agence Nationale de Cohésion des Territoires)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 October 2024ANCT is acquiring commercial space in the îlot B development at Allonnes Cœur de Ville. The agency acts as anchor tenant and public buyer, acquiring ground-floor commercial units to anchor the new mixed-use development (~3,300 m², 2,900 m² housing, 580 m² commercial). This partnership secures commercial viability of the project.
• SeeYouSuncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 June 2024SeeYouSun co-founded the Le Mans Sun joint venture with Cenovia. Co-founder Kevin Aubry presented the 99 initial solar projects and 15 newly signed installations. Le Mans Sun has deployed 114 solar installations (parking canopies, sports facilities, ground-mounted) producing 33 GWh/year. Cenovia provides local market access and project development capabilities while SeeYouSun contributes solar installation technology and project management.
• Prends Ma Place (Mickael Bernhard)coreTechnology or Integration · 27 March 2024Prends Ma Place is a startup that developed the Le Mans Parkings Partagés platform technology. Founder Mickael Bernhard signed the partnership convention with Loïc Sévin. The platform enables private parking owners to monetise unused spaces. Cenovia Park provides operational integration and market access. Reached 100+ reservations shortly after launch.
• Tryon EnvironnementcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 December 2023Tryon Environnement co-founded the Modul'O urban methanisation unit with Cenovia. Sébastien Gacougnolle, co-founder, signed the partnership convention. Tryon provides anaerobic digestion technology and operational expertise. Modul'O will process food waste into biogas (up to 10 GWh/year) and digestat for local farmers. Located on a 3,000 m² site in the south of Le Mans Métropole, due Q1 2025.
• ArteliaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 5 December 2023Artelia is an engineering consultancy providing technical expertise for the Port du Mans expansion project along the Quai des Lavandières. Artelia supports the complex environmental and hydraulic studies required for the new boat housing development.
• WiinchminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 5 December 2023Wiinch is a partner in the Port du Mans expansion project, providing technical support for the boat housing development along the Quai des Lavandières.
• SARL GRELET CONSEIL & ASSOCIESminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 5 December 2023SARL GRELET CONSEIL & ASSOCIES provides advisory services for the Port du Mans expansion project, contributing to environmental and technical study requirements.
• Le Mans Métropole HabitatcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 October 2023Le Mans Métropole Habitat (social housing office) and Cenovia signed two partnership conventions since late 2023. The first covers deployment of 5,000 m² of solar panels on social housing rooftops for collective self-consumption. The second covers parking sharing (6 spaces at 2 bis boulevard Oyon) through the Le Mans Parkings Partagés platform. Both initiatives are co-developed to benefit tenants and reduce energy costs.

Scale indicators34 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Nexity: Largest French private residential/mixed-use developer and real estate operator with nationwide footprint. Operates in the same urban development and Foncière-equivalent real estate verticals as Cenovia, though at much greater scale and as a private (not SEM) entity.
• Engie Green: Major French renewable energy developer and producer (solar, wind, biogas), part of the Engie group. Comparable to Cénovia Énergies' solar development mission but operating at national/international scale with much larger capital base.
• Effia: French parking operator and subsidiary of SNCF holding company. Operates delegated parking services across multiple French cities, broadly comparable to Cénovia Park's city-level parking concessions.
• Indigo (ex-Vinci Park): Leading French operator of off-street and on-street parking concessions across France, with embedded mobility/digital services. Directly comparable to Cénovia Park's parking concession management and innovation-driven service layer.

Direct peers

• SPL Lyon Confluence: Société Publique Locale dedicated to the Lyon Confluence urban regeneration project — mixed-use development, public infrastructure, and energy projects under a single-purpose SPL vehicle owned by local authorities, structurally analogous to Cénovia Cités.
• SADEV 92 (Hauts-de-Seine Aménagement): Hauts-de-Seine SEM operating as a public developer for housing, public facilities, and urban renewal; closely matches Cenovia's SEM/SPL structure, public-shareholder control, and metropolitan-mandate positioning.
• SERM (Société d'Équipement de la Région de Montpellier): Société d'Économie Mixte operating in the Montpellier metropolitan area as a public-interest urban developer covering construction, infrastructure, and concessions. Closely parallels Cenovia's SEM model in another French metropolitan territory.
• Grand Lyon Aménagement: Public-interest urban developer for the Greater Lyon area handling master planning, public construction, and energy transition projects. Comparable in scope and legal form to Cenovia's metropolitan development mandate.

Regional players

• Foncière Atland / Vae Solis (Voisin): Foncière operating commercial and office real estate portfolios across France; comparable to Foncière Le Mans Métropole's rental/management activity, though with broader geographic diversification and private capital structure.

Others

• Transamo: Public transport consultancy and project management firm (subsidiary of Transdev group) co-contracting with Cenovia on Chronolignes BRT and tramway projects. Relevant as a partner/ecosystem participant and indirect competitor for transit infrastructure mandates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cenovia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cenovia