Cuba liberalizes importation of vehicles by private individuals
The Cuban government plans to liberalize the importation of motor vehicles by private individuals, the newspaper Granma reported Thursday.
In an article titled “New regulations for the retail sale of vehicles will take effect,” the Communist Party daily makes the following announcements. [Translation by Progreso Weekly.]
- The government “sets free the retail sale of motorcycles, automobiles, vans, pickup trucks and buses, new and second-hand, to natural persons, Cuban and foreign living in this country, as well as foreign legal persons [businesses] and the diplomatic corps, establishing retail prices that are similar to those found in the market among private persons. This liberalized sale will be implemented gradually and in stages. […]
- “The revenue collected will be used to create a fund devoted especially to the development of public transportation throughout the country.
- “The authorization for the direct importation of brand-new and second-hand motor vehicles granted to authorized importers and the diplomatic corps will remain in place.
- “Along with the new regulations, the transfer of property among private owners, both national and foreign, will be maintained. Cuban and foreign legal persons [businesses] may still not sell vehicles to natural persons [individuals].
- “The purchase and sale of internal-combustion engines (gasoline and diesel) and bodies between private persons will be authorized. In addition, the sale to legal and natural persons of frames resulting from the disassembly of vehicles is permitted for replacement purposes.
- “The policy approved by the Council of Ministers prioritizes the sale of bicycles in the retail market, including electric bikes, for which tax-free prices will be established, for the purpose of encouraging their use. […] The availability of batteries, tires, accessories and parts will be guaranteed, also on a tax-free basis.
- “The period of one year, established on 1 October 2011, to transfer the ownership of the vehicles owned by people who left the country for good, will be extended […] to allow the completion of negotiations of this type.”
- The article concludes by saying that the new regulations will help to “eliminate restrictions that lost their significance with the passing of time [and] eliminate administrative hurdles that left room for illegality.”
They also “foster a new source of income for the development of public transportation, which is a priority for the Cuban State.”
(The full article from Granma — in Spanish — can be accessed by clicking here.)
