Cuba and Russia agree to recover and assemble UAZ vehicles on the island.

Cuba has signed an agreement with the Russian company ECHO-Export SRL to assemble and repair vehicles of the UAZ brand on the island. An initial delivery of vehicles, between 300 and 500, according to official sources.

This project, presented at the Cubaindustria 2024 exhibition, seeks to strengthen bilateral economic relations and modernize Cuba's transportation infrastructure, according to Miguel Ángel Pedroso Madin, Business Director of the Integral Automotive Services Company (EISA) of Cuba, as told to Sputnik.

This agreement initially includes the Patriot and Pickup models, and in a second stage, it is planned to assemble light cargo vehicles from the Profi brand. The goal is to replace imports, directly improve transportation in Cuba, and take advantage of the adaptability of these vehicles for any economic sector, as mentioned by the source.

Regarding Pickup models, he detailed that the intention is to transform them into hearses, one of the major problems that the transportation sector presents.

With these plans, UAZ, which has had a presence on the island for 20 years, also plans to offer after-sales services and warranties that promote the sustainability of automobiles and extend their useful life, through the periodic supply of Russian parts and components, added Ruslan Ignatiev, technical director and vice-representative of ECHO-Export SRL.

Although an exact date for the delivery of these vehicles is not mentioned, there is a condition that this will be maintained according to the needs and demand, but above all according to the bilateral collaboration ties, which are currently in good condition.

Cuba, with models of UAZ 452, popularly known as Guasabita, mainly used in the military and health fields, knows well the power of these vehicles.

Around this time last year, UAZ promised to assemble SKD model cars on the island, following agreements from the 11th Business Committee Meeting between Cuba and Russia held in Havana, stated the company to the Russian newspaper Izvestia.

The first batch of vehicles would be delivered to Cuba in July-August 2023, said UAZ executives to the mentioned media outlet, confirming that it was a decision following negotiations between representatives of the Ulyanovsk automotive plant and Cuban companies, which were not identified.

However, this agreement did not have any impact, and apparently, the signing did not bear fruit.

They also mentioned that the Cuban side was mainly interested in the UAZ Profi vans, and in the ambulances created based on the UAZ Loaf model, a panel vehicle that has been used in the military sector.