Rusty "checkers": what is slowing down the renewal of the taxi fleet
In anticipation of the entry into force of the law on the localization of taxi cars, carriers have practically stopped the process of updating taxi fleets. At the same time, taxi drivers are increasingly switching to delivery services. These and other issues, as well as trends and prospects of the industry, were discussed at the Modern Taxi conference by deputies, representatives of taxi companies, experts and public figures. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.
Localization has slowed down the update
The renewal of the taxi fleet has practically stopped over the past year. This was stated by Ilya Zotov, Chairman of the All-Russian Association of Passengers, member of the Coordinating Council of the All-Russian Popular Front for Transport Development, at the conference "Modern Taxi" held in Yekaterinburg. This is due to the long-term uncertainty of the final list of localized models available for use as taxis, he explained.
Amendments to the law "On taxis", which establish requirements for the localization of cars with "checkers", were adopted in May last year. However, the initial list of models meeting these criteria was published only in early October. At the same time, the current list was published only in early March of this year, a few days after the official entry into force of the new requirements. At the moment, it has already expanded several times with new models.
Meanwhile, compared to the autumn version, the spring "final" list has been reduced. For example, all UAZ models were excluded from it. At the same time, a number of regions where tourist destinations are developed, including off-road sections, asked to return UAZ trucks to the list, said Irina Zaripova, a member of the Public Council of the Ministry of Transport, chairman of the Public Council for Taxi Development.
— The taxi fleet is aging noticeably: approximately 30% of cars are models older than five years. It is still difficult to say how these requirements, as well as quotas for the self—employed to use non-localized models, will be implemented in a few years in the regions of Siberia and the Far East, where the share of right-hand drive cars among taxis is now 80-88%, - said Irina Zaripova.
Taxi needs a new status
Over the past two years, 47 draft laws and initiatives have appeared in the taxi industry, suggesting the introduction of certain prohibitions and restrictions, the Public Council for Taxi Development has calculated. At the same time, there was not a single proposal stimulating the industry, the organization noted. According to the chairman of the Public Council, the taxi industry affects the interests of more than 2 million people directly involved in it. Excessive regulation of this industry without a proper strategy can lead to negative consequences for both passengers and industry entrepreneurs who contribute to the economy, Irina Zaripova believes.
"We have prepared a report for the government of the Russian Federation with a proposal to include the taxi industry in Russia's Transport strategy as a separate area of government policy," she said.
The main reason for the risks and the retreat of business into the shadows is the lack of dialogue between regulators and the taxi industry, said Stanislav Naumov, deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Economic Policy. He stressed that, for example, the introduction of restrictions related to localization is extremely important both for the taxi industry, as well as for the automotive industry and the economy of the country as a whole. However, economic incentives are needed, in which it should be more profitable to work on a localized model than on a non-localized one, the deputy noted.
— This should be solved primarily at the regional level, depending on the situation on the ground. It is necessary not to clamp down on the market, but to provide more freedom and opportunities to all its participants," said Stanislav Naumov.
Legislative changes in the industry are aimed at reducing the burden on business and eliminating bureaucratic barriers, said Viktor Ostrikov, Deputy head of the Department of State Policy in the field of automobile and urban passenger Transport at the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation. The ministry "hears the industry and is ready to support it," he stressed.
There are certain difficulties in exchanging information about carriers and their vehicles between different departments, and this is a serious problem, says Georgy Seleznev, director of the Project Implementation Department at the Federal State Budgetary Institution "SIC of the Ministry of Transport of Russia." He gave an example when a legal carrier entered in the registry and the FGIS "Taxi" receives a fine for driving in a designated lane for public transport. As a result, taxi companies are forced to appeal against such fines.
— This is due to difficulties in transferring data to the Web system. We are aware of this problem and are solving it jointly with the Ministry of Internal Affairs," said Georgy Seleznev.
Last year, about 108 million passengers were transported by air, and about 100 million people were transported by trains, Ilya Zotov said. Taking into account the 70 million passengers who travel by taxi, this type of transport can be considered public, he is sure. But unlike aviation or rail transportation, which receive substantial subsidies from the state, there are no budget subsidies in the taxi sector, said the chairman of the All-Russian Association of Passengers.
"Taking into account the comparable volumes of passenger transportation in taxis compared to other modes of transport, there should be an appropriate synchronization of state support measures,— Ilya Zotov is convinced.
From taxi drivers to couriers
According to the Public Council for Taxi Development, about 20-30% of cars with "checkers" are currently idle due to a shortage of drivers. This problem has recently been exacerbated by the outflow of taxi drivers from passenger transportation to delivery services, the organization notes.
According to Ilya Ivashchenko, CEO of Kontinent Park, this is primarily due to the significantly lower regulation of this business area. The delivery driver does not need to apply for a more expensive CTP policy marked "for taxi", does not need to purchase CTP insurance, and does not undergo mandatory daily technical and medical examinations. In addition, the requirements for the car are much more liberal than when transporting passengers, there is no risk of receiving an impressive fine for the absence of a Taxi identification mark on the roof or for transporting a child without a child safety seat.
— We started the business as a taxi, but gradually moved exclusively into the field of delivery: it's easier and more profitable, — said Ilya Ivashchenko.
According to Irina Zaripova, about a third of taxi drivers either constantly work on order delivery or combine this field of activity with passenger transportation. This additionally puts pressure on both the cost of a taxi ride and the waiting time for a car, she noted.
— Obviously, the fewer taxi drivers working on the line, the higher the fare for the trip will be and the longer you will have to wait for the car itself, — says Irina Zaripova.
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