The province of Holguín is preparing to incorporate a new electric minibus of national manufacture, called "Rutero", with a capacity for 13 passengers and an announced range of just over 300 kilometers per charge.
The vehicle is part of a project that involves the construction of ten units intended for public transportation.
According to the state newspaper ¡Ahora!, the first minibus was manufactured at the "60th Anniversary of the October Revolution" Company, known as the KTP Factory, in collaboration with the Military Industry of Sancti Spíritus, and will begin service soon in the provincial capital of Holguín.
Although the authorities announced their upcoming integration into urban routes, they have not yet specified the start date for operations, the route it will cover, or how much passengers will need to pay.
The project is funded by the Transport Development Fund, which allowed for the acquisition of propulsion modules, electrical components, and other necessary parts for manufacturing the vehicles.
René Rodríguez, provincial delegate of the Ministry of Transport, explained that the initiative also involves the Gibara Shipyard, whose workers are participating in the manufacture of fiberglass components, drawing on their experience with this material.
The planned production is ten minibuses, although the manufacture of new units will depend on the availability of the necessary kits and components.
The initiative comes amid the deep crisis of public transportation in Cuba, characterized by a shortage of fuel, the deterioration of the vehicle fleet, and the challenges in maintaining regular routes.
In Holguín, the expansion of electric vehicles also faces significant limitations. At the end of October, it was reported that only one of the four charging stations installed in the province was operational, while the other three remained out of service due to a lack of solar backup and energy storage systems.
The information also indicated that the Provincial Transportation Company operated 33 routes using leased vehicles that purchase fuel in foreign currency.
It was also reported that ten electric vehicles were being constructed in cooperation with the KTP Factory, of which only one was completed and in the testing phase.
The introduction of these vehicles is not an isolated initiative. In Villa Clara, the acquisition of five electric minibuses for school transportation was recently announced, with the expectation of registering them before the end of 2026.
In Sancti Spíritus, on its part, it had been reported that 61 locally manufactured electric ecomobiles were in circulation, with plans to increase that number to 73 before the end of the year.
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