Taxi companies will rush to buy foreign cars because of the localization law

The law on the establishment of requirements for the localization of cars in passenger taxis may lead to an increase in demand for foreign cars. It is likely that fleets will strive to have time to purchase them and add cars to regional taxi registers before March 1, 2026. This was stated by Irina Zaripova, Chairman of the Public Council for Taxi Development.

"But at the same time, purchases are limited by the economic situation: loan and leasing rates remain high, and not all carriers can afford large investments. Therefore, it is not worth waiting for a mass update for the future — rather, spot purchases, where there are resources," the Autostat agency quoted Zaripova as saying on May 27.

Pavel Stennikov, head of the Maxim Public Relations Department, in turn, noted that the service life in taxi companies of cars that are used around the clock is on average three to four years.

Carriers that are not ready to switch to the domestic automotive industry will try to upgrade their cars and add them to the taxi registry before the law's requirements begin to apply. However, small fleets in the regions have been buying Lada Granta for a long time, since it is the most affordable model, Stennikov noted. At the same time, the existing fleet is aging and requires funds for repairs and maintenance, which leads to an outflow of contractors from the industry. This could lead to higher travel prices and longer waiting times for the car, he said.

To carry in Russian: The State Duma has relaxed the requirements for taxi cars

How will the new rules affect the cost of transportation

On May 23, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law on localization of taxi cars. The law comes into force on March 1, 2026, but in some regions the new requirements will take effect later. According to the document, a vehicle can be included in the register of passenger taxis if one of two conditions is met: if it has scored a sufficient number of localization points in accordance with the parameters adopted for public procurement, or if it was produced under a special investment contract concluded between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2025.

On the same day, it was reported that the Ministry of Industry and Trade would prepare information on cars localized in Russia that meet the criteria for use in taxis by the end of 2025.