Forget the Classic Cars in Cuba
Why Chinese Cars Are All The Rage
If you’re planning on renting a car on your Cuban vacation, chances are it won’t be an American classic. Rather, count on getting a Chinese one — probably a Geely, maybe a BYD.
Honestly, Geely is not exactly what one picture when they hear “cars” and “Cuba” in the same sentence. In fact, if you’ve never heard of Geely before, you’re not alone. Most Americans aren’t familiar with the Chinese brands that make up Cuba’s rental car scene: Geely, BYD, MG, BAIC, MAXUS, and the latest one to the party, for tourists wanting something a little fancier, GAC. Earlier this year, Guangzhou Automobile Group Motor (GAC Motor) became the eighth Chinese car brand to enter the Cuban market, contributing its GA8 luxury sedan and GS4 SUV.
A plain white Geely SK is a far cry from the aqua-colored 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air or pink 1957 Ford Fairland on every poster from Havana.
In my Cuba dream, all the cars are classic. Iconic. American.
But those cars are rarely available for rent. You can pay 30 CUC (about 33 USD) for an hour-long fixed-route cruise around Havana in a golden oldie, but if you want the freedom and convenience of a rental car, your affordable options are likely to be the Chinese brands (or maybe a Korean KIA or French Peugeot). Of the 8,500 rental cars owned by the Cuban Ministry of Transport’s company Transtur, 65% are Chinese.
As in many other developing countries around the world, Chinese cars and buses have transformed Cuba’s transportation sector over the past decade. China has been Cuba’s largest trade partner since 2016. Seventy percent of cars and buses in Cuba’s tourist sector are Chinese. All around Havana, you’ll see Chinese-made Yutong buses for public transport and private tour groups.
Why are Chinese cars so popular? Firstly, China is now the largest car manufacturer in the world and makes a range of affordable models. Secondly, the 60-year old U.S. embargo eliminates a huge slice of the car competition in Cuba.
Geely is by far the most common Chinese car brand in Cuba, servicing the police, civil, and tourist sectors. There’s even been talk of the brand opening an assembly plant on the island, but it’s been five years of talk and still no action, because government controls don’t necessarily create the most favorable of market conditions.
Since cars tend to have a premium of more than 400% on the island, buying a new car here is only available to the tiny slice of Cuba’s nouveaux riches. New cars are completely out of reach for the average Cuban earning an average of 25 USD per month. Unless deeper reforms come to the automotive sector, car manufacturers don’t expect to move to the neighborhood any time soon. Until that happens, Chinese car companies are focused on government sales, and Geely will keep assembling its cars in Uruguay and shipping them north. Unless you’re a police officer, government official, or a tourist, that 1956 Buick is likely to be your ride for a while. But maybe some Americans will pay you a pretty penny to take them for a spin.
