BEN from CEiiA receives EU approval to circulate across Member States

BEN is a compact electric car created by CEiiA – the Centre for Engineering and Product Development, based in Matosinhos in Porto – and, on Wednesday, it gained the long-awaited European Union (EU) type approval that allows it to be driven legally in every Member State.

With approval now in place, CEiiA will move ahead with production of an initial batch of vehicles at the BEN Garage in Matosinhos. After that comes a second stage focused on building limited-edition lots, tailored to different mobility services and use cases.

This period will also be used to further develop both the vehicle itself and the pilot manufacturing unit, which is designed to produce up to 200 units per year. However, large-scale output is planned for 2026, across several industrial sites in Portugal and in other European countries.

The target is to reach a decentralised production of 20,000 units per year by 2030, with an entry price starting from €8,000.

"With BEN, Portugal is, from now on, a European (mobility) manufacturer. We created BEN as Europe’s response to a new inclusive social model based on e-cars that are more affordable, small and sustainable. BEN is therefore aligned with the European Commission’s ‘Small and Affordable e-car’ initiative."
Helena Silva, Board Member and CTO at CEiiA

Small and affordable

BEN is a compact electric vehicle-similar in size to a Citroën Ami-designed to be used and traded as part of a shared mobility service, rather than as a privately owned means of transport. The project aims to address emerging models of urban mobility, with accessibility, sustainability and flexibility at its core.

One feature CEiiA highlights as distinctive is that BEN is the first electric vehicle to include a counter for avoided carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. It logs how much CO₂ is not emitted for every kilometre travelled, compared with an internal combustion car.

BEN from CEiiA: SPIRIT and BODY platforms

BEN is built around two complementary platforms. The first is SPIRIT, a digital layer that enables user identification, a shared digital key, service-specific configuration, and real-time monitoring of carbon emissions.

Modular BODY dimensions, seating and cargo

The second platform is BODY, which is physical and modular. BEN measures 2.50 m in length, has a flexible cabin with up to three seats, and offers cargo capacity between 100 litres and 400 litres. This versatility supports multiple scenarios, including carrying passengers and handling small deliveries, and CEiiA says it is already prepared for future autonomous driving. For now, no further specifications have been released.

"It can be a resource for a condominium, where people, when they buy the home, already have this mobility solution included in the package, just as they might have a shared laundry," Margarida Pina, business unit manager at CEiiA, told MaisGuimarães.

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