The survey showed the attitude of taxi drivers to the new localization law

The vast majority of taxi drivers in Russia (85%) are aware of the law on the localization of vehicles for transportation, 81% have a negative attitude towards it. This is stated in a study by the Institute of Social Marketing (INSOMAR), which Izvestia reviewed on October 13.

According to the survey, for most drivers, the opportunity to work in a foreign car is of fundamental importance — for them it is primarily a matter of convenience during working hours. More than a third of the respondents (38%) said they would not "transfer" to work in a taxi in a domestic car. At the same time, 50% of drivers plan to buy a new car in the next 5 years.

Every second owner of a foreign car does not allow the purchase of any localized cars from the list proposed during the survey (50% compared to 36% for others). 61% predict a decrease in the number of drivers after the law comes into force.

"At the time of the study, many drivers demonstrate a wait-and-see attitude. They expect the requirements to be relaxed or circumvented, and such expectations are supported by practical experience: "two years ago, the requirements [registration, self-employment] have already entered into force, but they don't require us and they give us orders." It is somewhat different in Moscow: here drivers choose a strategy to have time to prepare for March 1, 2026, according to them, there is no shadow market in the capital and there will not be," the study notes.

62% of drivers consider the introduction of requirements for the use of Russian-made cars in taxis to be an unacceptable measure of support for the Russian automotive industry, the institute noted. This is more often said by taxi drivers with full-time jobs (68% versus 52% with part-time jobs) and in private foreign cars (67% versus 57% for others), who are not ready to neglect the comfort of the workplace.

The interviewed taxi drivers suggested introducing the localization law in a pilot mode in part of the territories, studying the market reaction and adapting the requirements. They consider it necessary to introduce mechanisms to reduce the financial burden, the cost of localized cars (benefits, installments, leasing), as well as the establishment of a mandatory share of domestic cars in taxis instead of a full transition to them. In addition, drivers suggested expanding the list of localized cars, since the current list is poorly represented by cars suitable for urban conditions, comfort segments and higher, the study says.

Steering wheel rule: almost 100 thousand taxi cars will not be able to be replaced due to the localization law

The lack of relaxation may lead to the departure of passenger traffic to the gray zone, experts say.

Earlier, on October 10, it was reported that the Public Council for Taxi Development (OCRT) appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin with a proposal to postpone the entry into force of the requirements for the localization of taxi cars for the self-employed until March 1, 2031.

Prior to that, on October 1, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation published a primary list of cars that meet the requirements of the law on taxi localization, which will be operational from March 2026. It includes models of Lada, UAZ, Sollers, Moskvich, Evolute and Voyah brands. Later, the ministry clarified that the list is planned to be expanded, including models under the Haval and Tenet brands, as well as cars manufactured at Kaliningrad Avtotor.

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