The taxi announced a shortage of drivers and a lack of funds for cars

The problem of the shortage of taxi drivers has worsened. If in 2023 70% of carriers reported a shortage of personnel, then in 2024 this figure increased to 77%. This was reported to Izvestia by the Public Council for Taxi Development, which summed up the results of the all-Russian survey of carriers.

The key reasons for the shortage of drivers are the difficulty of finding qualified personnel, stricter regulation of the industry, as well as unwillingness to work according to the new requirements for taxis.

"If in 2023 38% of carriers felt a shortage of drivers at the level of 10-20%, then in 2024 this figure decreased to 35%. However, at the same time, the percentage of carriers experiencing a deficit increased at the level of 1-10%: from 11% to 33% per year. Thus, despite the continuing shortage of personnel, the situation is gradually changing," the Public Council said.

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The carriers also stated that in 2024, taxi companies faced a shortage of funds for the purchase of new cars, since all financial resources are directed to cover the increased costs of maintaining, repairing and operating an existing fleet. In 2024, 22% of carriers did not upgrade their fleets, compared with 17% in 2023. In 2025, only 33% of carriers plan to upgrade their fleets, compared with 51% in 2024. Almost half of the respondents have not yet made a decision and are monitoring the situation in the credit market, experts noted.

At the same time, business representatives note a significant increase in car maintenance and repair costs. According to the survey, taxi fleet maintenance costs increased by 20-50% compared to the previous year. The main reasons for the increase in costs are an increase in the cost of spare parts (56% of carriers faced purchase problems due to high prices), an increase in prices for car maintenance and repair, an increase in fuel and insurance costs.

"The crisis state of the industry leads to the fact that funds that could be used to upgrade the fleet are spent on maintaining the operability of existing machines. Carriers face a choice: either raise tariffs or reduce profits. Both affect the accessibility and quality of services for passengers. Further cost increases may lead to the closure of many taxi companies and reduced competition in the market," the Public Council said.

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On February 25, the head of AvtoVAZ Maxim Sokolov supported the initiative to localize taxi cars in Russia. Taxi transportation is beginning to have strategic importance, so this industry needs technological independence, said the top manager.

On February 21, during a press conference at the Izvestia News Center on the topic "Major changes in the taxi market," Artem Kiryanov, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Economic Policy, said that the cost of the trip in a taxi next it may grow by 15-20% this year.