Large-scale assembly of UAZs began in Cuba in April 2025, following the visit to the country of Russian Vice President Dmitri Chernyshenko.
LIMA, Peru – The Russian Embassy in Cuba reported that the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant, famous for SUVs from the company Ulyanovsky Avtomobilny Zavod (UAZ), plans to increase production of these vehicles on the Island during 2026.
“According to the company’s statement, almost all organizational problems with local partners have been resolved, several dozen units have been produced and UAZ plans to significantly increase production volumes in Cuba this year,” notes a publication from the diplomatic headquarters. on Facebook.
The note also recalled that the large-scale assembly of the UAZ began in Cuba in April 2025, after the visit to the country of the Vice President of the Government of Russia, Dmitri Chernyshenko, who participated in the launching ceremony of the first UAZ SUV assembled on the Island.
A few months later, in July, the UAZ company delivered the first batch of UAZ Patriot all-terrain vehicles, assembled through kits at a plant in Cuba.
The Integral Automotive Services Company (EISA) of Cuba and the Russian company ECHO-Export SRL signed the agreement for the assembly and sustainability of UAZ brand vehicles from June 2024. This agreement also includes the recovery of UAZ cars that have been in use in Cuba for decades.
Engineer Miguel Ángel Pedroso Madin, Business Director of EISA, then commented that the agreement would have a focus on two initial phases. In the first stage, work would be done with the Patriot and Pickup models while, in the second phase, the assembly of Profi brand light cargo vehicles is planned, with the aim of substituting imports and improving transportation on the Island.
In addition, it was planned to transform the Pickup cars for specific services, such as hearsesthe lack of which is currently “one of the main problems associated with the sector”, according to Pedroso Madin.
Danilo Gómez Céspedes, specialist at ECHO-Export SRL, pointed out that UAZ off-road vehicles have been known in the Cuban market for decades. However, many of these vehicles, such as the classic UAZ 452 models, popularly known as “guasabita”, need restoration and modernization.
