This Wednesday, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitri Chernyshenko revealed plans to resume the assembly of vehicles from the Gorky Automobile Plant (GAZ) in Cuba. Additionally, a dealership will be established to facilitate their sale on the island within the year.
The announcement, covered by RT in Español, was made during the 23rd session of the Russian-Cuban Intergovernmental Commission on Commercial, Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation. This event took place in Saint Petersburg and was co-chaired by Cuba's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment, Óscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga.
"We intend to restart GAZ vehicle assembly and open a sales office in Cuba this year," stated Chernyshenko to the bilateral commission.
The official highlighted that vehicles from GAZ, UAZ, KamAZ, and Lada are already being supplied to the island, with "over 230 units of machinery and equipment exported" to Cuba in the past two years.
Chernyshenko also mentioned plans to develop a "taxi fleet in Havana through collaboration with the Moscow Government," with the Russian side providing 50 Moskvich brand vehicles for this initiative.
This announcement regarding GAZ is part of a broader Russian-Cuban automotive strategy.
The vehicle assembly line for UAZ at Cuba's EISA plant started operations in 2025. Chernyshenko noted that mechanical equipment shipments for this line are ongoing.
Nonetheless, UAZ production in Cuba was temporarily halted on March 25 due to "severe electrical supply constraints" on the island, as reported by the company itself.
GAZ's attempts to establish operations in Cuba aren't new.
Back in 2018, GAZ and Ural plant signed an agreement to assemble 120 GAZ vehicles and 500 Ural trucks on the island. However, the project didn't succeed, with Cuba claiming the vehicles were non-functional, while Ural noted the trucks appeared in military parades.
In August 2023, Ural filed a lawsuit against two Cuban companies and the Russian state bank VEB.RF for 23.4 million euros.
By April 2025, Chernyshenko had already mentioned that the GAZ dealership registration process was underway in Cuba. This week's announcement confirms that the process will advance to completion this year.
The meeting in Saint Petersburg occurred amidst heightened bilateral diplomatic activities.
Chernyshenko emphasized that following agreements between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Miguel Díaz-Canel, cooperation continues to expand in all sectors.
He also noted the arrival of the Russian oil tanker Anatoly Kolodkin at the port of Matanzas on March 31, delivering 100,000 tons of crude oil, marking the first significant shipment in almost three months.
"We hope this aid ensures the operation of the country's critical and social infrastructure, particularly the health system, hospitals, schools, and, naturally, the homes of the island's residents," stated the Russian Deputy Prime Minister.
The automotive cooperation is just one aspect of Russia's comprehensive strategy in Cuba, which includes investment plans exceeding $1 billion, the establishment of a Russian university branch in Havana, and eight Russian language teaching centers on the island with over 1,300 graduates.
For the Cuban regime, which is grappling with its worst energy and transportation crisis in decades, these announcements serve as both a political and economic lifeline, further deepening their reliance on Moscow.
Frequently Asked Questions about Russian-Cuban Automotive Collaboration
What are the plans for GAZ vehicles in Cuba?
The plan is to restart the assembly of GAZ vehicles in Cuba and open a sales office on the island within this year.
Why was UAZ production halted in Cuba?
The production was temporarily suspended due to severe electrical supply constraints on the island.
How does this automotive collaboration affect Cuba?
These announcements provide a political and economic lifeline for Cuba, which is facing significant energy and transportation challenges, but also increase its dependency on Moscow.