On their own: Russians want to be driven by domestic taxis

The State Duma is actively discussing the possibility of introducing requirements for the localization of taxi cars. The relevant draft law, which was adopted in the first reading last year, is being prepared for the second reading. According to domestic automakers, the introduction of such requirements will provide additional protection for the taxi industry. However, some parliamentarians, experts and taxi market participants believe otherwise. The details are in the Izvestia article.

Taxi points

The initiative to introduce localization requirements for taxi vehicles is a kind of protection for the entire taxi transportation industry. This was announced at the Forum on Regulatory Policy of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs said Maxim Sokolov, President of AvtoVAZ. According to him, such transportation is beginning to have strategic importance, so the industry needs technological independence.

— We have seen that failure to take into account the use of localized, technologically sovereign means of transport can lead to irreparable consequences. What would have happened to our public transport if 10-15 years ago we had not started using exclusively domestic models of buses, trolleybuses, trams, and trains in the subway? And there were attempts even in the subway to put wagons produced on the territory of already unfriendly states. And what would have happened in this case? We would have all public transport stopped," said the head of AVTOVAZ.

According to the proposals of deputies and senators, it is planned to introduce regulatory requirements for the level of localization of cars that are used in taxis. It will be evaluated in points depending on the proportion of domestic components, assemblies and components used in production.At the same time, it is assumed that regional authorities will be able to independently determine specific requirements for such vehicles. But they should not be any softer than federal regulations. According to the authors of the bill, this will minimize the dependence of the taxi industry on imported supplies, as well as provide additional stimulation of demand for domestic cars.

According to Maxim Sokolov, the same mechanisms of support for the domestic manufacturer should be applied in the taxi sector as in other types of public transport. At the same time, he stressed that the proposed requirements for cars with "checkers" absolutely do not mean that all taxi cars will have to have the Lada logo.

— AvtoVAZ is not the only automaker in the country, in terms of localization, many enterprises are following this path,— said Maxim Sokolov.

Balance of interests

At the end of January, during a visit to AvtoVAZ, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that taxi cars in our country should be of domestic production. However, it is necessary to maintain a balance between the interests of carriers and automakers, the head of state stressed.

When considering the possibility of introducing requirements for the localization of taxi cars, it is necessary to ensure a compromise between the interests of all market participants, said State Duma Deputy Nikolai Buduyev.

— We are all interested in creating conditions for the development of both the automotive industry and the transport industry. The main thing is that the services are provided efficiently, safely and at an affordable price," the parliamentarian said at a round table in the State Duma on taxi localization.

The support of automakers can lead to an increase in the cost of cars, said Alexey Bykov, head of the Delovaya Rossiya taxi subcommittee. According to him, there have already been such examples on the Russian car market. Taxi companies should independently choose models that are convenient for them, both in terms of technical characteristics and from an economic point of view, the expert believes. In the case of the introduction of requirements for the localization of cars "with checkers", it makes sense to introduce direct subsidies from the state to taxi companies, Alexey Bykov believes.

Head of the expert center "Traffic Jams.no," Alexander Shumsky believes that the task of the authorities is to help increase demand through state support.

— I like Moscow's approach: there is a subsidy for the purchase or leasing of taxi cars [which are produced at metropolitan enterprises]. It's not about bans, but about incentive measures. This is much more promising," he is sure.

The rash introduction of requirements for the localization of taxi cars may lead to the withdrawal of a significant number of taxi drivers from the market and an increase in fares, said Ilya Zotov, chairman of the All-Russian Association of Passengers, Deputy Chairman of the Public Council under the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation.

— There are about half a million self-employed people in Russia who work on their own cars. These are not always models of domestic automakers, — he said at a press conference in Izvestia. According to the expert's forecasts, if localization requirements are introduced and begin to apply to self-employed drivers, this may lead to an increase in tariffs by 30-40% at once.

Alexey Nezhivoy, head of the operational department of the Independent Trade Union Novy Trud, noted that a significant part of taxi drivers are self–employed who earn extra money in taxis in private cars.

— Their family budget simply cannot withstand the cost of buying a new car, the expert believes.

Taxi drivers are against

In the Maxim taxi ordering service, the introduction of car localization requirements for taxi transportation is considered "a ban on the legalization of means of production of passenger taxi transportation services, with the exception of domestic passenger cars." This will lead to the development of shadow haulage, formal reports on the minimum number of domestic cars purchased, bankruptcy of transport companies, and passenger dissatisfaction with the quality of taxi services, the company's press service told Izvestia.

- Limiting competition will definitely not lead to the achievement of technological sovereignty of the domestic automotive industry.. There are no administrative and legislative prohibitions on the use of cars of specific brands and countries of manufacture in taxis in any country in the world, including those with their own developed automotive industry. A well—developed global practice is economic programs to stimulate demand for domestic cars (where there are such), the constant development and improvement of cars specially manufactured for use in taxis," the Maxim service's press service noted.

Yandex Taxi considers the concerns and risks expressed by carriers and experts regarding the prospects of introducing requirements for the localization of taxi cars to be justified.

— A dialogue between taxi companies and car manufacturers is necessary to develop a balanced solution. We are ready to create a platform for discussion and work out together options on how to ensure the development of taxis, taking into account the tasks of supporting the domestic automotive industry, the Yandex Taxi press service told Izvestia.