The law on taxi localization has spurred sales of foreign cars to carriers

In April–May 2025, demand for passenger cars increased significantly from taxi and carsharing services, especially in the used segment. This was reported on June 24 by Kommersant with reference to the interviewed leasing companies.

According to Maxim Agadzhanov, Managing Director of Alfa-Leasing Group, in the first five months of this year, the number of transactions with taxi carriers for new vehicles increased by 74% compared to January. In the used segment, demand increased 4.5 times compared to January and by 71% year-on-year.

The driver of demand growth is the adopted law on the localization of taxi cars, said Suren Asaturov, director of the ACRA group of financial institutions ratings. The interlocutors of the publication attribute the growth in demand to a wide range and attractive prices for cars from the stock. This may also be due to high interest rates and restrictions on lending to individuals, which make it impossible for some drivers to register a car for themselves.

According to the law, foreign cars registered in regional taxi registers before March 1, 2026, will be able to continue working until they are written off. Dmitry Vissarionov, Regional Director of the sales Department of Gazprombank Autoleasing, believes that the parks will strive to have time to purchase foreign-made cars and add them to regional taxi registers before this date. However, there is not much excitement in the deals, since not all carriers will be able to afford large expenses, he believes.

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

How will the new rules affect the cost of transportation

Earlier, 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. The Ministry of Industry and Trade reported that it will prepare information on cars localized in Russia that meet the criteria for use in taxis by the end of 2025.

Later, Irina Zaripova, chairman of the public council for taxi development, said that taxi rides could rise in price by 30% due to the new law on the localization of vehicles for transportation. As she explained, it is expensive to change cars in taxi companies, especially given the high key rate, the unavailability of preferential leases and loans, as well as rising prices for maintenance and spare parts.