Havana authorities add 20 repaired buses to public transport system

Cuban authorities added 20 repaired Yutong ZK 6118 buses to the transportation system in Havana.

The vehicles were assembled at the Caisa plant in the province of Artemisa using components from a donation provided by China. The government plans to use these buses primarily at the terminal in the capital municipality of Santiago de las Vegas. The repair of these vehicles is part of a larger program to restore 100 buses, including 60 rigid and 40 articulated models.

The project uses parts from 40 containers donated by Beijing, which have a value of approximately 10 million dollars. While the government claims the work saves more than 2.5 million dollars by avoiding new purchases, officials noted that blackouts and fuel shortages delayed the completion of the first 20 units by nearly a year. Authorities stated they are still evaluating how to stabilize routes with these vehicles, meaning they may not begin service immediately.

The addition of these buses occurs as national transport services decline. The Minister of Transportation, Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, told Reuters that daily interprovincial bus departures from Havana fell by 97.4 percent between 2025 and 2026. Many citizens expressed skepticism on social media, questioning if the buses can operate without sufficient fuel or if they will wear out quickly under high demand.

For many workers, the lack of public options means private transport costs can exceed the monthly minimum wage of 3,210 pesos.