Portugal is set to introduce its first homegrown electric car: the BEN, a compact 2.5-meter vehicle designed for shared mobility. Developed at CEiiA in Matosinhos, the BEN prioritizes affordability and functionality, allowing owners to “detach” from it as a shared resource rather than a personal possession.
Initially, sales will target condominiums, companies, and mobility operators, with minimum batches of ten vehicles. This approach reflects the car’s shared-use concept: communities will coordinate the hours of use among members and, where applicable, with users outside the group. Direct sales to individual buyers will come later. Prices start around €8,000.
The BEN is part of the Be.Neutral (Be.Neutralizing) agenda under Portugal’s Recovery and Resilience Plan, which supports the creation of 17 products, processes, or services by 2026 with €128.13 million in funding. CEiiA, alongside 40 partners including cities like Guimarães (European Green Capital 2026), leads the project. The company will commercialize the BEN through BEN4US, integrating it into broader mobility services.
Designed to complement bicycles, scooters, and other transport modes, the BEN aims to reduce urban car density by maximizing usage hours and promoting sustainable, community-centered mobility. CEiiA and its partners retain ownership of their respective innovations, ensuring a structured path from R&D to industrialization and market deployment.
This initiative marks a significant step in Portugal’s automotive innovation, combining local engineering expertise with forward-thinking mobility solutions.
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