Minister of Transport Warns: Motorcycles Assembled with Parts from Small Businesses Cannot Be Legalized

The Cuban Minister of Transport, Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, has reiterated that motorcycles assembled using parts purchased from Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) cannot be legalized. In a Facebook post aimed at clarifying questions regarding motorcycle sales, he explained that if someone buys motorcycle parts from an SME, constructs the frame, and assembles the motorcycle, it cannot subsequently be legalized.

Rodríguez Dávila outlined the government's approved methods for acquiring a fully assembled motorcycle. "You can obtain it from another individual who already has it legally registered, through authorized importation/commercialization entities, as unaccompanied baggage, or via a consignment sent to you," he specified.

Regulations on Locally Assembled Motorcycles

The minister also emphasized that motorcycles assembled domestically by SMEs or other non-state entities without the appropriate licenses will not be legalized. He revealed that there have already been instances of this occurring. "Some have offered complete motorcycles using a combination of invoices—one for the frame and another for the rest of the parts—which does not comply with established regulations," he criticized.

Key Considerations When Purchasing a Motorcycle

Rodríguez Dávila highlighted important factors to consider when purchasing a motorcycle: its brand and model, compliance with cylinder capacity and manufacture date requirements, price, technical warranty, potential access to spare parts and workshop services, and crucially, the manner in which it enters the country. He stressed that it must not be assembled from separate parts and pieces, a practice allowed only in exceptional cases for pre-existing vehicles.

Guidelines for Importing Motorcycles

On the topic of importing a motorcycle as unaccompanied baggage, fully disassembled, Rodríguez Dávila advised against it. "While it's permissible for a motorcycle to have some parts detached, like the handlebars, seat, and wheels, for easier transport or packaging, and accompanied by its technical passport and invoice, a mere collection of parts claimed to be a disassembled vehicle is not acceptable," he clarified. He noted that only a specialist could determine if the parts make up the claimed vehicle, potentially leading to complications.

The law allows for the importation of a motorcycle as a single unit and does not permit customs authorities to decide at clearance whether an import consists of parts or a whole motorcycle. Importation of motorcycle units, such as engines or cylinder blocks, is also prohibited unless done through authorized importers/commercializers, not directly.

Legal Importation and Assembly by Licensed SMEs

Rodríguez Dávila added that some SMEs with a License for Transport Operations have legally imported motorcycle units. "These units can be assembled and invoiced as part of their workshop services, as long as it's for replacing a motorcycle already registered in the Vehicle Registry," he stated.

He concluded by addressing the legal status of electric and combustion motorcycles offered by various websites for delivery in Cuba. "Often, these sites promise to deliver a specific vehicle in the country post-payment, to be imported as a shipment in your name, with the necessary invoice, meeting established requirements. This is feasible if the legality of the offer is clearly understood," he clarified.