Cuba To Get New Cars In 2012

By Cornelius Nunev


Fortune favors the bold, it is said, and automobile makers have an astonishing new industry to try and make entry to. However, automobile makers have to be willing to sell their vehicles in Cuba.

Private property rights

Earlier this year, the government of Cuba announced that one of the few remaining socialist countries would take on some pseudo-capitalist reforms. President Raul Castro, younger brother of Fidel and counterpart in the Cuban revolution, announced economic changes, according to the New York Times, which would initially consist of the right to buy private property. Cubans had previously been allowed to start their own businesses and own cellular phones, and another recently announced reform is that Cubans will even soon be able to purchase new automobiles, as reported by USA Today.

The importance of owning an automobile

Cuban citizens will be able to buy and sell new vehicles in 2012. However, the dealerships will be state-owned. The Detroit Free Press reports that General Motors doesn't plan on exporting automobiles to Cuba in the near future. This is regardless of the belief that during the Eisenhower administration, GM automobiles were put in Cuba which means several vehicles that are GM cars. There have been occasional imports, as Russia was selling Lada automobiles to Cuba during the 1970s. New automobiles in Cuba are there. Just a couple exist though. The Seattle Post Intelligencer reports that President Raul Castro did allow some brand new vehicles such as buses and jeeps to be sold in 2009. This allowed Cuban citizens to start taxi services. The car situation now is much better though. Private citizens can purchase them now.

Industry isn't very big

In Havana, there are some vehicle washes starting to pop up, as reported by the LA Times. The Big Three of Detroit most likely will avoid importing to Cuba as the embargo of Cuba is still there, even though brand new automobiles will soon be imported. Also, there are few individuals who will be able to purchase a brand new car. Hardly anyone can afford to purchase a vehicle, particularly considering Cubans typically live below the poverty line. When it comes to car sales in Cuba, only one group seems to really buy any. That is the government itself. The Detroit Free Press reports that there are several cars that the Cuban government buys such as Chinese vehicles, Hyundai's and Kias and even the Volkswagen now and then.




About the Author:



Grab The Post URL

URL:
HTML link code:
BB (forum) link code:

Leave a comment

  • Google+
  • 0Blogger
  • Facebook
  • Disqus

0 Response to "Cuba To Get New Cars In 2012"

Post a Comment

comments powered by Disqus