The Minister of Transport of Cuba, Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, confirmed this Tuesday the removal of the limit of six vehicles in five years that applied to individuals and legal entities when purchasing cars from authorized retailers, as part of a set of new regulations published in the Official Gazette Ordinary number 65.
"The limit of purchasing six vehicles within five years at authorized dealerships has been eliminated. There was a restriction on the number of vehicles that both individuals and legal entities could buy; this limit is now removed, along with the period during which that restriction was in effect," said the official at a press conference.
The provisions, which include Decree 163/2026 and Resolution 172/2026, are the regulatory implementation of the economic transformations 146, 147, and 148 from the package of 176 measures approved by the National Assembly on June 19, 2026.
Among the most significant changes, the minister detailed that the number of authorized dealers in the country has doubled, expanding the available options for various types of vehicles.
Private legal entities are also authorized to assemble and market electric vehicles.
"It opens the possibility for non-state legal entities authorized to assemble and market electric vehicles in the categories of mopeds, motorcycles, tricycles, and cars. This is one of the recently approved transformations," Rodríguez Dávila specified.
In terms of taxes, the special tax is waived for the sale of electric vehicles that come with their charging stations using clean technologies. For buses and minibuses, this tax decreases from 20% to 12%; to 7% if they are assembled in Cuba, and to 5% if they are electric.
Personnel on state missions abroad will be able to import vehicles with up to eight passengers through any authorized importer, not just one as was previously stipulated. Additionally, the purchase from importers is now permitted for foreigners with temporary, provisional, humanitarian, and real estate residency, categories that were previously excluded.
Other measures include the direct import of combustion tricycles of up to 250 cc for individuals, and the import of an electric vehicle with its renewable charging station, exempt from taxes.
A new census is also being enabled for the homologation and legalization of vehicles assembled from parts.
The minister also called on international manufacturers and suppliers to establish offices for their companies in Cuba. "We invite all manufacturers and suppliers who wish to set up in the country and participate in this marketing process; you are welcome."
The reactions: irony about the embargo
The reactions on social media were predominantly ironic. Numerous Cubans pointed out the contradiction between these measures of openness and the official discourse that for years attributed the scarcity of vehicles and transportation difficulties to the U.S. embargo.
"It is authorized, it is authorized, it is authorized... It wasn't the U.S. embargo that was to blame for us not being able to import cars," wrote a user. Another pointed out: "And what happened to the embargo? It’s laughable."
There were voices questioning the regime's priorities. "I don't see any talk about producing food or essential items for life," noted a commentator.
The context: between crisis and reforms
The announcement comes just six months after the government itself suspended the importation of combustion vehicles on February 19, 2026, in response to the fuel crisis, impacting new operations, signed contracts, and pending shipments.
The Cuban automotive market is one of the most restricted historically. By the end of 2024, the State had set a limit of six vehicles every five years per person.
The background is a deep crisis in public transportation, marked by a fuel shortage and a deteriorating fleet, while vehicle prices remain well beyond the purchasing power of most Cubans.
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