Fading Chinatown Havana hope the Cuban-Chinese man for a revitalized Culture
Efforts U S to normalize relations with Cuba could eventually lead to an influx of US imports in the country, but regarding automobiles, a country got there first China.
Cuba has long been known for its American cars from the 1950s line the streets, but Havana now houses a small, but growing, number of new Asian car brands are changing the landscape.
Until recently, the vehicles of choice Cubans had somewhat limited.
After being hit by a US embargo in 1960, residents have lovingly maintained a plethora of American Pontiacs, Buicks, Chevys and Cadillacs TIES close communist country with the former Soviet Union also means that there is also a large fleet Russian Ladas 1970 and 1980, which outnumber the older American models.
But among the relics, a Chinese-made Geely CK clutch and South Korean Kias have found a home after new laws came into force in January removed the limits on car purchases for the first time in 50 years.
Even before the reforms, ministries workers were allowed to import cars, which means that 10,000 Geely units were already in the country, according to China Global Times, which cited the automaker statistics.
The Chinese company accounted for 50 percent of imports of cars in Cuba by the end of 2013, the newspaper said, equal to the combined share of Kias, and Peugeots other brands.
But there is a problem facing many ordinary Cubans consumers tempted by one of these Asian engines price.
The use of the convertible Cuban peso CUC - equivalent to the US dollar and is used by tourists and wealthy Cubans - a new car can be expensive A vehicle that could cost the equivalent of about 20,000 in the United CUCs 20,000 STATES or Europe would be worth about 80,000 CUCS in Havana.
These vehicles are still very expensive and out of reach of ownership transfer operations in Cuba are heavily taxed, Diego Moya-Ocampos, country analyst at IHS research firm that deals specifically with Cuba, told CNBC email .
The Cuban government tries to finance the transport of the revenues it collects car sales by 75 percent of revenues and vehicle sales taxes are used to finance public transportation This greatly increases its costs compared to the purchase of a vehicle outside Cuba.
Therefore, no new vehicles were sold last year, a Reuters report in June - crediting information on the website of Cuba - indicating that only 50 cars and four motorcycles were sold in the first six months of year, there are only 11 car dealers in Cuba, with 4 in Havana, according to Moya-Ocampos.
Mauricio Alonso, owner of a holiday home based in Havana, is one of many small business owners who have taken birth in the past five years after a series of reforms by Cuban President Raul Castro.
He told CNBC that prices were margins lifestyle, even with a liter of cooking oil costs about 200 percent more in Cuba.
Even in comedy shows on television projected the Cuban government, comedians make jokes about it, he said that I understand the Cuban government didnt choice.
Alonso said Wednesday he was famous with its neighbors, following the decision of President Barack Obama to improve relations with Cuba.
Classic Cars Cuba Tuesday, March 27, 2012 February 30 ET.
The cold war between Cuba and the U S is finally over, Alonso said, but stressed that the ad was unlikely to mark the death knell for American classic stalwarts Cuba.
Some of the older cars working as taxis are really dangerous and big polluters, the authorities want to fill the higher standards, he explained, but to replace the old cars take a long time and cost a lot, a lot of them are still good shape and are tourist attractions.
For now, Alonso is pleased with his 1984 Russian made Moskovich, despite its two neighbors who both new cars.
It is not very effective but very strong and durable and I can always find spare parts, he said.
Chinese cars that change Cuba, Chinese cars, cuba.
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