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Antique cars are seen in a street of Havana, Saturday, Dec. 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
Associated Press
Cuban Car
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In this Oct 12, 2013 photo, tourists ride in a classic American car on the Malecon in Havana, Cuba. (AP Photo/Franklin Reyes)
Associated Press
Vintage US-made cars pass by as Cubans watcht the ‘Moskva’ Russian guide missile cruiser arriving at Havana’s harbour, on August 3, 2013. The vessel is part of a three-ship group in official visit to Cuba. AFP PHOTO/Adalberto ROQUE (Photo credit should read ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP/Getty Images)
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Cuba Car
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Cuba Car
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car, havana
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Cars in Cuba – 37
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Cuba car
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Cars in Cuba, Cuba
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Cuba Cars
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Cuba 2010 – Classic car
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Cars in Cuba – 19
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Green car
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car
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Havana, Cuba
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Pink Cadillac in Cuba
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The obligatory old car
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Cuban Car in Havana
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Por las carreteras de Cuba 2
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Cuba
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HAVANA-AUGUST 12:Old classic Chevrolet August 12,2011 in Havana.Under the current law that the government plans to change before 2012,Cubans can only trade cars that were on the road before 1959
ShutterstockCuban citizens will be able to freely buy new and used cars for the very first time since the island country converted to communism in 1959. Previously, citizens were only able to buy and sell cars without government approval if they were built before the revolution, which accounts for the spectacular array of vintage American metal on the island, according to a report by Automotive News.
But changes two years ago allowed newer models to be sold to individuals, provided they obtained approval from the country’s communist government. The new regulations strip the approval process, though, as part of a push by the country’s president, Raul Castro, to increase freedom for average citizens.
Castro, who took over for his ailing brother, Fidel, in 2008, has pushed for increased freedom and less government oversight in the country. Although the nation is opening up its automotive market, it may not be quite so affordable to all citizens – newer models may include a 100-percent tax, meant to fund Cuba’s public transport system, according to the Communist Party’s newspaper, Granma. Still, the move is likely to be good news for the growing number of private businesses in the country.