As of mid-January 2026, less than two months remain before the new legislation on the localization of cars for taxis comes into force. However, despite the approaching deadline—March 1, 2026—most regional taxi companies and private carriers are in no hurry to switch to approved Russian models. Analysts note that interest in localized cars remains low, and the commercial car fleet is still dominated by Korean sedans.
According to data from "AlfaStrakhovanie" for January–October 2025, Hyundai Solaris holds the leading position in the Russian taxi market, accounting for 20% of the total commercial car fleet. Kia Rio follows closely behind with 19%, and LADA Granta completes the top three with 17%. Together, these three models make up more than half of the country's active taxi fleet.
Although the government has approved a list of 20 models from six brands with production in Russia—including Lada, UAZ, Sollers, Evolute, Voyah, and "Moskvich"—their presence in actual transportation is still minimal. At the same time, the share of Chinese cars in taxis has grown from less than 1% to 14% over the past three years, but they still lag behind Korean brands. Meanwhile, European brands such as Volkswagen and Skoda are gradually losing their positions.
It is important to note that the new law does not completely prohibit the use of foreign cars in taxis. According to the bill adopted by the State Duma, private carriers will be able to include cars in the regional register that have been in their ownership for more than six months and used by one owner. However, the share of such cars is limited—no more than 25% of the total number of registered taxis in the region. This quota will be valid until January 1, 2033.
Nevertheless, experts emphasize that despite the presence of a temporary "valve" for imported cars, the very idea of switching to localized models raises skepticism among drivers. The main reasons are the lack of recognition of new brands, concerns about reliability, and the absence of a developed service infrastructure. In a situation where key market players continue to rely on proven Solaris and Rio models, it is still premature to talk about a mass transition to domestic analogues.