Car imports from the US to Cuba reached $36 million between January and July 2024, the US-Cuba Economic and Trade Council reported this week.
The figure far exceeds the entire 2023 where total car imports were around 3,705,643 dollars
According to what he said to Marti News John S. Kavulichpresident of the non-governmental organization created in 1994, most of those 36 million correspond to used cars (34,587,077)
Kavulich believes that the business of selling cars to Cuba could reach around 50 million dollars in the coming months.
“Vehicle sales to Cuba are part of the big story this year,” said the expert, who considers it the big news in terms of exports from the U.S. to the island.
In July alone, imports of used vehicles from the US to Cuba totaled $3,705,643.
“The increase is significant, considering the economic difficulties facing Cuba, such as the shortage of electricity and fuel, and the high prices of the latter,” Kavulich added.
Vehicle imports in Cuba. New measures
In July, the Cuban regime announced that would give the green light to the importation of vehicles under certain requirements.
According to Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero, diplomatic personnel, representatives of companies abroad and professionals participating in collaboration missions abroad, including doctors, will be allowed to import vehicles.
Among the measures announced, the official said that they will approve a new policy for the transfer of ownership of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers, their marketing and importation. “The complementary regulations for their implementation are in the process of being reviewed,” he said.
Transfer of property will be permitted between individuals and legal entities, except for foreign diplomats, in compliance with tax regulations.
He specified that for the importation of motor vehicles, technical compatibility must be guaranteed. “There have been people here who have embarked and brought one of those ‘jeeps’, and in the end they did not realize that the gasoline in Cuba is not good for that, and it melts.”
The measures also authorize the company Servicios Automotores SA (SASA) to import and sell motor vehicle bodies and motorcycle frames in convertible currency, exclusively as replacement parts.
However, the number and types of vehicles that non-state management forms (FGNE) can import will be limited.
He added that the vehicles of engines and bodies available within the country will be sold in Cuban pesos.
