The U.S. company Fuego Enterprises Inc., with representation in Havana and parent company of the OnCuba communication platform, and the Katapulk company, have been authorized by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the United States Treasury Department and the Department of Commerce, to import vehicles to Cuba.
A company statement details that hybrid or combustion vehicles, new and used, of different brands and sizes, with a manufacturing date between 2018 and 2023, and coming directly from the United States may be imported.
The gamut of vehicles includes:
-Microcars
-Subcompact and Compact Cars
-Medium- and Large-Size Cars
-Medium- and Large-Size Luxury Cars
-Sports cars
-Convertibles
-Compact Minivan and Minivan
-Mini, Compact, Medium- and Large-Size SUVs
-Pickup Trucks
Among the makes mentioned are Ford, Mercedes Benz, Chevrolet, Toyota, BMW, Land Rover, Tesla, Cadillac and Nissan.
In just a few days, Fuego has already received some 30 import requests that are being processed. Deliveries in Havana are made between 10 and 20 days after the purchase is made.
The founder and executive director of Fuego, Hugo Cancio, confirmed that these imports will benefit the non-state sector to improve and scale the management of their businesses by having this type of means of transportation.
Regarding the prices, he commented that they will match those of any car dealer in the United States.
“We have a corporate responsibility to generate benefits, but we also have a responsibility to contribute to the well-being of Cuban society, participating in these new opportunities that are opening up to break the isolation and for Cubans to have access to this type of goods,” Cancio commented.
The administration’s decision to approve these special licenses coincides with the will expressed almost a year ago by Biden to support the private sector, “supporting greater access to U.S. Internet services, applications, and e-commerce platforms. We will support new avenues for electronic payments and for U.S. business activities with independent Cuban entrepreneurs, including through increased access to microfinance and training.”
Last February, Cuba, for its part, expanded the possibilities for the transfer of ownership of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers, in addition to their import and commercialization, offering benefits to legal entities in the private sector.
Fuego and Katapulk notify those interested that they can contact their branch in Cuba through their email venta.autos@katapulk.com
