Havana/China continues to get involved in the Cuban economy and delivering resources that, even if they are vital for Cuba, in practice are crumbs in the face of the dimensions of the crisis. The new collaboration, which is added to the decades that the country has been sending vehicles to the island and, especially, the new gazelles Photonincludes sending parts, parts and equipment to launch buses for public transport.
The first lot, the official press reported on Friday, the bus producing company Evelio Prieto was delivered on Thursday – which has several stopped vehicles, “tens”, according to Xinhua-, in Guanajay, Artemisa, and arrived on the island through the Chinese Agency for International Development Cooperation.
The aid, explained the company’s manager, includes engines, tires and batteries, and will be distributed between mechanical, electrical and quality control works. As a last step, the interior of the bus will be reconditioned, some in need of “capital repair”, so that “they have the capabilities with which they began to work again.”
The idea, he added, is to repair up to five vehicles per month and, at the end of the year, deliver between 40 and 50. However, he said CubadebateChinese aid could help repair up to a hundred bus, although there are shipments to make “that they will gradually arrive in the country by sea.”
The island authorities, meanwhile, just received the pieces and applaud the good relations between the two countries
The improvement expected in transport – having in mind that the necessary fuel is available to start the bus – would be essentially for the capital. This was stated during the ceremony of the aid of Chinese ambassador Hua Xin, who stressed that Beijing’s plan is “to inject a new boost to the transport system of the Cuban capital.”
The island authorities, on the other hand, just received the pieces and applaud the good relations between the two countries, which will allow high demand routes, “connecting hospitals, schools and communities.”
That almost all vehicles and pieces that arrive for public transport are allocated to the capital is an issue that has already created controversy among Cubans from other provinces, who demand more attention from the authorities. Last June, when Transport Minister Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila announced the arrival to the island from China of a fleet of Chinese brand microbuses Foton, Internet users protested because the 100 vehicles were destined for Havana. Given popular criticism, it was decided to leave only 50 and distribute the other half to several provinces.
Although Havana requires more vehicles, the situation of transport in the rest of the island also crosses a precarious situation. During the reports of each ministry before Parliament last July, Transportation showed alarming figures: in 2024, local buse services only completed 35% of the transportation plan, stopping moving in that period about 350 million passengers.
The portfolio acknowledged that of the 2,500 routes managed by the provincial companies of the sector, 47% are paralyzed
Likewise, the portfolio acknowledged that of the 2,500 routes managed by the provincial companies of the sector, 47% are paralyzed – mainly due to lack of spare and fuel pieces – and, of which they continue to operate, 90% only make two daily trips, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
The Ministry’s report also reported the worst conditions on rural routes and areas with difficult access, with only 26% and 19% of the plan fulfilled, respectively. As for 2025, until April 894 million passengers were moved (68%) on the island and 412 million were stopped, 114 less than a year earlier in the same period.
On the other hand, the poor quality of Chinese vehicles is striking. As this newspaper accredited in recent days, Foton They are starting to failjust two months after operation.
Chinese vehicles, between taxis, buses and microbuses are an important part of the transport fleet. Only in the last 20 years, China sent more than 10,700 Guaguas of the Yutong brand to the island. However, the little transport that moves today on the island is far from living up to those figures without anyone being able to clarify – whether because of the quality or lack of resources – where the Chinese cars are.
