Russia's New Taxi Law to Reshape Industry, Displace 200,000 Drivers
A new localization law, effective from March 1, 2026, will significantly impact the taxi industry in Russia. Over 70% of current taxi vehicles, including popular models like Chery, Geely, Haval, and Solaris, do not meet the new requirements, potentially leading to driver churn and fare increases. Around 200,000 drivers, or 20% of the total, may leave the industry due to these changes.
The law requires taxis to use only domestically produced vehicles. A preliminary list of approved models has been published, featuring twenty vehicles from six Russian brands: Lada, UAZ, Sollers, Evolute, Voyah, and Moskvich. This could lead to a significant shift in the types of cars operating as taxis.
To support drivers, a free Wi-Fi map for taxi drivers was launched in Rostov Oblast in August. However, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has indicated plans to ease the Special Investment Contract (SPIC) mechanism, potentially allowing some foreign brands to operate as taxis after March 1. As of 2023, no specific information exists about companies that have received special contracts for introducing cars with localization conditions.
The new localization law will reshape the Russian taxi industry, with over 200,000 drivers potentially leaving and popular car models becoming obsolete. While some foreign brands may still operate under eased SPIC conditions, the industry will predominantly feature domestic cars from March 1, 2026. The impact on fares and services remains to be seen.
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