Breaking news, politics, economy, visas, safety, and lifestyle updates for expats living in Ecuador.
BYD presented the Yuan Pro DM-i and Ti7 at the 2026 Auto Show in Guayaquil. The company says the Yuan Pro offers up to 100 kilometers of electric range and 1,100 kilometers combined, while the Ti7 offers 360 kW and 0-to-100 km/h acceleration in 5.3 seconds.
Enrollment for students entering Ecuador’s public-school system for the first time opens August 12 for the 2026–2027 Sierra–Amazonía school year. The process is free and online, with a first window running through August 17 and a later no-document window on August 18.
Students and faculty at PUCE built SeñaPUCE with deaf students, combining four free digital tools for learning Ecuadorian sign language, practicing mathematics, and recognizing signs with artificial intelligence.
Hacienda La Paz took first place at the national Pepa de Oro competition during the ninth World Cacao Summit. The family business was established in Guayas in 1969 and distributes agricultural products nationally and internationally.
The EducaEmpleo application window is limited to August 4 and 5. Applicants need a third-level degree registered in SNIESE and additional credentials for bilingual or English positions.
Esmeraldas and Chone have local holidays on Friday, August 7, while the national August 10 holiday creates a three-day weekend for most of Ecuador.
Guayaquil's transit agency says urban operators cannot raise fares yet, despite notices claiming a 50-cent fare would begin July 30. The current authorized fare remains 30 cents while vehicle reviews are prepared.
A proposal to raise Quito's bus fare from 35 to 40 cents on January 1, 2027 drew criticism from council members and 23 citizens. The debate now turns on service quality, transparency, and compensation for operators.
Quito says its free public bike system will begin operating between July 28 and July 30. The new QuitoBici network includes 250 bicycles, 25 stations, GPS tracking, and links to Metro, Trole, and Ecovia routes.
Work begins July 27 on Avenida 12 de Octubre between Cristobal Colon and Tarqui. The 70-day project affects the center-north of Quito, with alternate routes planned for private vehicles and public transport.
Repaving work starts July 24 and runs through August 25, affecting a major northern Quito access corridor in two phases.
Quito is debating a transit ordinance that would set an urban bus fare of USD 0.40 from January 1, 2027, subject to council approval. The proposal also outlines rural variable fares and a USD 0.45 electric-bus fare.
