‘It’s a Little Crazy To Think That the Ordinary Cuban Can Buy One of These Cars’

 Mercedes-Benz in Havana sells its own models and many Chinese ones

MCV Comercial, a joint company between the Cuban State and Mercedes-Benz, is not new to the car import business /14ymedio

14ymedio bigger14ymedio, José Lassa, Havana, 10 January 2025 — In black suits and shiny shoes, the agents of MCV Comercial, a vehicle importing company, presented to customers this Thursday their most recent acquisition: seven newly arrived cars on the Island parked at the intersection between Vía Blanca and Vía Monumental, in Havana. Except for the Mercedes-Benz, which the company acquired on its own and which can cost between 50,000 and 60,000 dollars, the vehicles had something in common: they have all had owners for months.

“The Chinese ones we had in the square are already sold. Customer demand is brutal. People have come from Villa Clara, Pinar del Río and other places,” one of the sellers proudly told a customer while listing the brands in stock: the Chinese Foton, SkyWell, Faw Bestune and DFSK, the Korean Kia or, its specialty, the brand new Mercedes. “We are accepting orders, and a second batch is arriving in February,” he said.

MCV Comercial, a joint company between the Cuban State and Mercedes-Benz, is not new to the car import business. For years, the company has been dealing, almost exclusively, with everything that has to do with the German manufacturer, whether they are donations of ambulances, passenger cars or imports authorized by the Government. With the entry into force on January 1 of a decree that facilitates the purchase of vehicles abroad for individuals, the company has opened its horizons. It was one of the nine companies selected to manage the importing of vehicles.

Customers’ eyes shine while trying the interior of a Bestune T55, “the best seller by far”

Eight days later, MCV organized the showroom where several customers came in to try the interior of a Bestune T55, “the best seller by far.” The price of the vehicle, even if it is Chinese-made, has made it one of the most demanded by wealthy Cubans. Its final value, including the payment of taxes and customs fees, is about 26,846 dollars, although it can go up to 30,000, “a bargain.”

It is enough to take a look at the event to notice that several requirements must be met to negotiate with the company. Exclusivity is, after all, a guarantee of MCV. “The best or nothing,” promises its catalog, and its agents have no qualms about confirming it. “It’s a bit crazy to think that the ordinary Cuban can buy one of these cars,” admitted the sales agent, answering the question of a curious person.

Payment is accepted from abroad through international cards, in addition to the Classic prepaid card, which is recharged with dollars, from Cuba. Cash or prepaid cards such as Bandec and Metropolitano are not accepted.

Despite the Government’s tax cut, vehicles are still impossible for the pockets of employees on the Island, and the difference between those who have the economic power to acquire one and those who cannot even afford to look at them is evident in the event itself. All the visitors wore elegant clothes and arrived by car. MSMEs, traders, relatives of big-shots and, thanks to the new law, Cuban professionals who have completed more than two years of missions abroad, make up the usual clientele of the importers.

“We have a small stock of those Mercedes, about 20 or 25 vehicles of the two models that are there. They cost between 45,000 and 55,000” / 14ymedio

MCV doesn’t worry about whether the products it offers are affordable, because it has plenty of customers with money. “Don’t worry. They are going to call you, and at that moment if you do not want the vehicle or want another one, you can change it,” explains the agent to an annoyed buyer because, of the cars on display, none is free to buy at the moment. “And how long does it take to arrive?” the man asks: “Two to four months. That depends on the shipping companies and the ships, but the car comes with a pin number, identifying that it is yours. Once you sign the contract and pay, even if it takes 140 days, it’s yours,” he said.

“And those?” the buyer inquired, without being satisfied yet. “We have a small stock of those Mercedes, about 20 or 25 vehicles of the two models that are there. They cost between 45,000 and 55,000.”

On the other side of the exhibition, a lady insisted to one of the sellers that she wanted a T55. “Go to the counter and give your details. The sales clerk will write up the contract, and you can specify the color you want and schedule an appointment. The day it arrives you can buy that vehicle and any others you want. Although there is a special tax for those who buy more than three,” he explained.

A man arrives in the parking lot driving a newly acquired Bestune, the same one the woman wants. She doesn’t hesitate to approach him to ask his opinion. The answer is what she expects: the process of buying it is a pain, but “it turns out well. The problem is gasoline. You have to buy the ’special’ fuel in the gas stations, which is hard to find.”

Translated by Regina Anavy
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