Despite the fact that the ban on purchasing cars built after 1959 was lifted back in December 2013, Cubans managed to buy only fifty cars and four motorcycles in the first six months of 2014.
While a new government law removes limits on new vehicle purchases for the first time since Cuba officially became a communist country, new car prices are apparently so prohibitive that only the few rich can afford them.
Considering that most state workers in Cuba are way beneath the poverty line, with some of them making as little as $17 a month, shelling out $91,000 for a 2013 Peugeot 206 or as much as $263,000 for a Peugeot 508 is obviously pretty much impossible.
As most of you know, the main reason for Cuba to be currently filled with 1950s Chevrolets and/or Buick landbarges is the fact that until recently, only cars built until the Cuban Revolution took place could be freely sold among the population.
It was 2011 when Cuban president Raul Castro – Fidel’s brother – started allowing citizens to buy and sell cars from each other, but only after getting a special authorization from the government. Starting with January 2014, that government authorization has been withdrawn, but jacked up prices are still more than prohibitive, hence the 50 cars sold in half a year. Not much of a revolution now, is it?
By Alex Oagana
Story References: Reuters
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