The number of companies qualified for vehicle import and sales has increased from 7 to 17, including IMPEXPORT, CIMEX...

According to Decree No. 163/2026 published in Cuba's Official Gazette, Cuba will implement new rules for the purchase, import, sale and assembly of vehicles starting from August 11, 2026. The new policy not only eliminated some restrictions on the number of car purchases, but also expanded the scope of authorized import companies and significantly reduced the tax burden on electric vehicles. For China's second-hand car exporters, the policy window for the Cuban automobile market is expanding, but the government still retains approval of importers, brands and specific models.

The "maximum purchase of 6 vehicles in five years" was cancelled, and the number of authorized import sales companies increased to 17 

A more direct change in this reform is to cancel the previous restriction on individuals and legal persons to purchase a maximum of 6 cars within five years. After the implementation of the new regulations, the number of vehicles purchased through Cuban authorized car sales companies will expand.

At the same time, the number of companies that have obtained vehicle import and sales qualifications has increased from 7 to 17, including IMPEXPORT, CIMEX, DUNA and Servicios Automotores S.A. (SASA), etc.

This means that Cuba's formal sales channels have been expanded for external suppliers, but it does not mean that imports are fully market-oriented. The Cuban Motor Vehicle Evaluation Commission will still be responsible for approving suppliers, car brands and specific models. If China export companies want to enter the local market, finding an importer is only the first step, and the products themselves will still have to pass the local access review.

The new regulations also strengthen after-sales responsibilities. When authorized dealers sell new cars, the warranty period provided must exceed 1 year; the warranty period for used vehicles must exceed 6 months, and corresponding after-sales services must also be provided. For China second-hand car companies, this point deserves special attention: Cuba has begun to allow more flexible second-hand car transactions, but at the same time it has also written after-sales protection responsibilities into the rules, and the simple "one-off" trade model will become increasingly difficult to do.

Individuals can directly import pure trams, but there are still restrictions on the quantity and use 

Decree No. 163/2026 further liberalizes the import of personal vehicles. Eligible Cuban natural persons can directly import a pure electric vehicle at a time for non-commercial purposes.

In addition, individuals can also import a fuel motorcycle or moped with a displacement of no more than 250cc every five years, and can import a certain number of electric motorcycles, electric tricycles, and hybrid or fuel tricycles in accordance with regulations.

From the perspective of product structure, this is more consistent with Cuba's current automobile consumption reality. Official data shows that as of June 2026, Cuba had sold 35,494 motor vehicles of various types that year, of which 65% were fuel models, 30% were pure tram models, and 5% were hybrid cars. It is worth noting that nearly 70% of sales come from mopeds, motorcycles and tricycles rather than traditional passenger cars.

This means that for China exporters, Cuba's opportunities cannot be limited to four-wheeled passenger cars. Electric two-wheelers and tricycles that are cheaper, use less electricity, and are simpler to maintain may be more in line with local affordability and travel environment.

The tax rate for electric vehicles is significantly lower than that for fuel vehicles, and local assembly receives further support 

The new regulations set significantly different tax rates for different power models. According to the report, a special tax of 5% applies to imported pure electric vehicles, while the tax rate is 25% for traditional fuel vehicles; if pure electric vehicles are assembled locally in Cuba, the tax rate is further reduced to 3%, and the tax rate for locally produced fuel vehicles is 20%.

If imported electric vehicles also use charging facilities powered by renewable energy, they may receive further tax exemptions. Considering that Cuba has long faced fuel and electricity supply problems, the combination of "cars + photovoltaic/energy storage + charging equipment" may be more practical than simply exporting electric vehicles.

Buses and minibuses also receive tax cuts: the relevant tax rate is reduced from 20% to 12%, 7% if assembled locally in Cuba, and 5% for all-electric vehicles. This shows that Cuba not only hopes to promote the electrification of private transportation, but is also using tax policies to solve the problem of serious shortage of public transportation vehicles.

At the same time, approved non-state-owned legal persons can import parts and components in the future to assemble or produce mopeds, motorcycles, tricycles and electric vehicles. State-owned enterprises, foreign-invested enterprises and joint ventures can also participate. For China companies, the importance of CKD/SKD, key parts and local assembly cooperation has been further enhanced.

Cuban officials said that some tariffs and taxes generated by vehicle imports will still enter the "Public Transportation Development Fund." Transport Minister Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila revealed that the funds had previously been used to purchase 300 electric tricycles, 110 minibuses, 30 long-distance buses, 15 electric funeral vehicles and other public transportation equipment.

According to official data, as of June this year, a total of 13,689 vehicle property rights transfers have occurred in Cuba, and 41,963 vehicles have been directly imported through unaccompanied baggage or delivery. It can be seen that despite the difficult economic environment, Cuba's actual vehicle demand still exists.

written in the end 

For China's second-hand car exporters, what really deserves attention in Cuba's new policy is not "comprehensive liberalization," but the selective relaxation of market access: sales channels have been increased, restrictions on the number of cars purchased have been lifted, and used cars have entered the formal sales system, while pure electricity and local assembly have received significant tax incentives. The biggest opportunities are not necessarily high-priced passenger cars, but may be second-hand pure trams, electric two-wheeled tricycles, small commercial vehicles with controllable prices, as well as CKD/SKD and accessories businesses. However, the warranty requirements for used cars for more than six months, brand model approvals and the special foreign exchange settlement environment also determine that Cuba is not a suitable market for simply reversing cars to make price differences.

Source: Guangdong Good Car

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