In the region of Tatarstan, a fresh mobility concept has emerged under the name Chelnok. It is a transport service that blends the capacity advantages of large minibuses with the convenience and flexibility of regular taxi routes. Put simply, travelers can experience a bus ride that behaves like a taxi ride: no transfers, no fixed path, and the ability for the vehicle to adapt its stops to meet real demand. A bus may adjust its course midjourney as new orders come in, picking up riders along the way whenever needed.
Globally, services like this are categorized as transport on demand. Compared with conventional buses, the interior remains more dynamic and comfortable because the service aligns with actual passenger needs, often delivering a higher level of travel comfort. Users can order and pay for rides through a mobile app. At the time of writing, the Shuttle app and a beta version called Shuttle Driver were available on Google Play, though the download numbers remained modest.
The project is presented as a private initiative, yet regional media have noted its proximity to entities connected with KAMAZ. This alignment is suggested by the involvement of KAMAZ Digital in the related applications and by recent activity on Chelnok’s official channels, which show a high-level figure from the Tatarstan administration engaging with the service at a KAMAZ training site in Naberezhnye Chelny.
An October presentation in Naberezhnye Chelny illustrated Chelnok in action. The newly introduced KAMAZ-6250 shift appears unrelated to the project, while the JAC Sunray is highlighted as a corresponding transport option in the visuals. The presentation tactics imply a broader collaboration framework, one that connects heavy vehicle programs with flexible passenger services.
Observed in multiple presentation photos, the JAC Sunray is consistently shown as the vehicle of choice for Chelnok. The larger collaboration landscape includes a current joint effort between KAMAZ and JAC around medium duty trucks under the Compass program, with JAC providing a licensed cab design. Additionally, at KAMAZ’s suggestion, JAC became a partner in assembling vehicles under the Moskvich brand at a former Renault facility in Russia, signaling a deeper integration of commercial vehicle ecosystems.
As the season progressed, new visual material indicated continued use of JAC Sunray as a Shuttle transport option, aligning with events and public showcases. Earlier in the year, there were unconfirmed reports about a potential Russian assembly of JAC vehicles at an existing Sollers-Ford plant in Yelabuga, Tatarstan. Preliminary information suggested that the model positioning replacing the Ford Transit would likely be the JAC Sunray.
In May of the prior year, there were plans to introduce Uzbek-assembled JAC Sunray models into the Russian market before the summer, though the initiative did not advance to market release. A culture of online discussion around Chelnok can be traced in regional social forums, adding another layer to the public perception of the project and its practical impact on daily commuting options.