Prosecution recommends six-year prison sentence for Moreno; Sales of electric vehicles soar; More than 20,000 motorcycles seized by police in Cuenca

Prosecutors are asking judges to sentence former president Lenin Moreno to six years and six months in prison for receiving bribes from Chinese contractor Sinohydro. In the trial’s closing arguments Wednesday, prosecutor Carlos Alarcón claimed “it was clear beyond a doubt” that Moreno and his family received at least one million dollars in bribes during the construction of the Coca Coda Sinclair hydroelectric plant.

The prosecution asked that the same sentence be given to Moreno’s wife Rocío González, his daughter Irina Moreno, and 17 other defendants, including the former Chinese ambassador Cai Runguo.

Former president Lenin Moreno at the Sinohydro trial in Quito.

Moreno managed the Coca Coda project during its construction from 2010 and 2015 when he was vice president in the Rafael Correa government. The prosecution claimed that Moreno participated in “network of corruption” that operated during the bidding process and construction of the hydroelectric project.

Moreno served as president from 2017 to 2021.

The contractor Sinohydro admitted it paid $76 million in bribes to government officials and subcontractors, although much of the money was never accounted for by the government.

Sales of electric vehicles soar
The sales of electric cars and trucks increased 295% in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period of 2025. According to the National Transit Agency, 5,509 all-electric vehicles were sold through June compared to 1,395 in 2025.
The ANT also reported that sales of hybrid vehicles also increased sharply, up 143% in the first six months of 2026.

Quito car dealer Paul Ortiz predicted that sales of electric and hybrid vehicles would continue to increase rapidly. “This is the future of automotive sales in Ecuador and we are just at the beginning,” he said, adding that other South American countries are also experiencing rapid growth in the market. “Buyers are impressed with the high-quality and low maintenance of the Chinese-manufactured cars.”

Ortiz said that the government’s elimination of the registration tax for electric vehicles last year is a “major stimulant” for the market.

More than 20,000 motorcycles seized by police in Cuenca
During Cuenca municipal council debate on an ordinance to prohibit male passengers on motorcycles, the Municipal Mobility Company (EMOV) reported that 20,067 motorcycles have been seized by authorities since 2021 in the city.

Most of the motorcycles were detained for lack of license plates, current registration or because the owner did not have a valid driver’s license. Other seizures were made because the driver or passenger were carrying weapons, were in possession of illegal drugs or for intoxication.

EMOV says that “only a minority” of the motorcycles have been reclaimed by owners with most remaining in two detention lots in Cuenca.

In the first six months of 2026, 2,885 motorcycles have been detained, EMOV reports.