Commission clears Lisbon Violet line tender as PESA replaces CRRC

After an in-depth investigation opened on 5 November 2025, the Commission found that foreign subsidies had given the consortium an unfair advantage over other bidders; switching to PESA removes the distortion. Metropolitano de Lisboa can now award the contract to the most economically advantageous bidder provided the consortium meets all its commitments; the report does not give the contract value.

On 5 Nov 2025 the European Commission opened an in-depth investigation under the Foreign Subsidies Regulation because China's state-owned rolling stock maker CRRC, through its Portuguese unit, may have benefited unfairly from subsidies in the tender launched in April 2025 by Metropolitano de Lisboa for the new Violet line; a consortium led by Mota-Engil had notified the bid. On 21 Apr 2026 it closed the case, for the first time after an in-depth public-procurement probe, with a decision subject to conditions: the consortium swaps CRRC for the Polish manufacturer PESA, after which Metropolitano de Lisboa may award the contract to the most economically advantageous bidder, while the Commission monitors compliance with the commitments. (LOK Report, 5 Nov 2025 and 21 Apr 2026)