The prior prohibition on the sale of privately-owned autos is NOT the reason for the old cars. Cuba does not build cars. It must import them, as well as replacement tires and spare parts; it must also provide enough gas and oil, importing these if needed. There are other more-pressing needs, like public transportation, industrial and commercial trucks, health care, education, and housing. Cuba therefore limits imports and parcels out the imported cars carefully. The new rules on the sale of private cars allow owners to cash in or to switch to a different vehicle; they do not magically yield new imports and all that is needed to support them. One reason that Cuba is short of money is the US embargo, which is meant to create precisely situations like limited imports.

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