Compared with the old regulations, the biggest changes this time are two "expansions": one is that the range of vehicles and auto parts allowed to be imported has been significantly expanded, and the other is that the number of market entities allowed to participate in automobile assembly has increased...

According to the latest package of automobile regulations announced in Cuba's Official Gazette, Cuba will implement a new system for the import, assembly, sales and property rights transfer of motor vehicles starting from August 11, 2026. The core document is Decree No. 163/2026 signed by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz, which will replace Decree No. 119/2024, which will be in effect since January 2025.

Compared with the old regulations, the biggest changes this time are two "expansions": first, the range of vehicles and auto parts allowed to be imported has been significantly expanded, and second, the number of market entities allowed to participate in automobile assembly has increased. For China companies that have long been concerned about Latin American used car exports, this adjustment deserves focused follow-up.

New and used cars are included in the import framework, and engines and bodies can also be imported.

According to Decree No. 163/2026, Cuba allows imported automotive products to cover complete motor vehicles, including new and used vehicles, as well as engines, engine blocks, bodies, cabs, chassis and motorcycle frames.

Natural Cuban persons and foreigners with Cuban residency status can purchase vehicles through an authorized dealer system and use U.S. dollars or other convertible currencies to complete the transaction through payment instruments approved by the Central Bank of Cuba.

However,"allowing imports" does not mean that all vehicles can enter without barriers. Ordinary cars will still bear corresponding tariffs, customs service fees and other taxes and fees based on the model and import method. More importantly, the new regulations also establish a "Motor Vehicle Evaluation Committee", led by the Minister of Transportation, responsible for approving suppliers, brands and models.

This means that for China used car companies, whether models can enter Cuba ultimately depends on the specific access list and subsequent implementation rules. There is a policy window for vehicle sources, but "supplier qualification + brand model approval" may become the real threshold.

The treatment for pure electric vehicles is obviously different."Car + Renewable Energy Charging Station" is fully tax-free. 

Against the realistic background of fuel shortages, Cuba has set aside a fairly clear policy channel for electric vehicles this time.

According to the new regulations, if pure electric vehicles are imported and equipped with charging facilities powered by renewable energy, they can enjoy full tax exemptions. The relevant regulations also mention that this personal import duty-free authorization applies to Cuban natural persons and foreigners living in Cuba, and is a one-time application according to regulations.

For electric vehicles assembled locally in Cuba, the new regulations also provide tax support and can be exempted from special sales taxes. In addition, in the future, electric vehicle production or assembly projects in Cuba will require simultaneous construction of charging facilities that can cover relevant use needs.

The policy background is also clear. In February this year, due to the severe fuel crisis, Cuba temporarily suspended the import of internal combustion engine vehicles; in May, about 200 electric vehicles were put into operation, and in June, the government announced that residents would be allowed to directly import electric vehicles. Therefore, Decree No. 163/2026 is more like further institutionalizing the previous new energy policy.

For China suppliers, this is particularly noteworthy. What Cuba currently lacks is not just electric vehicles, but also stable, low-cost energy solutions. Therefore,"electric vehicles + photovoltaic/energy storage + charging equipment" may be more suitable for the local market than exporting an electric vehicle separately.

Non-state-owned companies can participate in assembly, creating new space for parts and CKD business 

Another important change comes from Decree No. 122/2026. Cuba previously prohibited non-state-owned entities in principle from using parts to assemble vehicles, but Article 229 of the revised Road Traffic Safety Law allows motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailer production and assembly on the basis of legally obtaining parts and components and meeting quality and safety requirements.

The new regulations mean that Cuban non-state-owned legal persons can also participate in the assembly or manufacturing of mopeds, motorcycles, tricycles and electric vehicles and use them for market sales after approval by the Council of Ministers and relevant procedures are completed through the Ministry of Transport.

However, special attention needs to be paid to the fact that the relaxation of assembly rights does not mean that the import rights of parts and components are completely open. Relevant kits, parts and accessories must still be imported through entities authorized by the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment. Therefore, if China companies consider CKD/SKD, electric tricycle, electric motorcycle or auto parts business, the first thing they need to solve may not be to find consumers, but to find local partners with legal import qualifications.

The new regulations also cover the sales of auto parts, assembly and accessory management, vehicle technical scrapping, dismantling and recycling, and establish a public transportation development fund. It can be seen that Cuba is not relaxing the import of complete vehicles alone this time, but is re-establishing a complete management framework for cars from import, assembly to scrapping and recycling.

written in the end 

For China's second-hand car exporters, the biggest attraction of Cuba's policy adjustment this time is the simultaneous emergence of "expanded access for second-hand vehicles" and "priority for electrification." There is indeed a new policy window for traditional used cars, but considering Cuba's long-standing practical problems such as fuel shortage, foreign exchange constraints and special payment channels, what is really worth studying may be moderately priced pure electric used cars, electric motorcycles, and electric tricycles., as well as supporting photovoltaic charging equipment. At the same time, the new regulations still retain the approval mechanism for suppliers, brands, models and import entities, and cannot simply be understood as comprehensive liberalization of automobile imports. Cuba's door is opening, but if you want to really sell your car, it is more important to get through the three matters of qualification, settlement and after-sales first than rushing to start the car.

Source:https://www.cibercuba.com/Noticias/2026-08-05-u1-e197721-s27061-nid337042-vehiculos-motors-otras-parts-podran-important

Source: Guangdong Good Car

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