On March 1, 2026, a law will come into force in Russia requiring taxi companies to use cars with a certain level of localization. This may provoke a surge in demand for foreign cars in the coming year, as carriers will try to purchase cars before the introduction of new rules. This was stated by Irina Zaripova, Chairman of the Public Council for the Development of Taxis.
According to her, a massive renewal of car fleets will not occur due to high interest rates on loans and leasing.
But at the same time, purchases are limited by the economic situation: interest rates on loans and leasing remain high, and not all carriers can afford large investments. Therefore, a massive renewal in advance is not worth waiting for - rather, targeted purchases where there are resources.
Pavel Stennikov, a representative of the "Maxim" service, added that the average service life of a taxi is 3–4 years, and small regional carriers are already actively using Lada Granta as the most affordable option.
The law provides for two options for meeting the requirements: either the car must score a sufficient number of localization points (by analogy with public procurement), or be produced under a special investment contract in the period from 2022 to 2025. The Ministry of Industry and Trade will publish a list of models suitable for taxis by the end of 2025. It is possible that carriers will either have to update their fleet or face rising maintenance costs for old cars, which may lead to higher fares.
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For revision: The scandalous bill on the mandatory use of Russian cars in taxis will be amended
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