The Ministry of Industry and Trade is currently weighing the introduction of mandatory certification for electric scooters and other personal mobility aids (PIMs). This consideration is documented in a letter sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs to Alexander Yakubovsky, a deputy with the United Russia faction in the State Duma of the Russian Federation. The Ministry of Industry and Trade informed the press that although a GOST for electric scooters has been in force since February 2023, the standard remains voluntary for the time being. Source: News.
Responding to inquiries from the press, the agency noted that the regulatory framework governing the manufacture and operation of SIMs is not yet fully developed. The Ministry said that electric scooters are becoming an increasing risk on roadways and note a rising trend in incidents involving PIMs, including cases with severe outcomes. This underscores calls for a more formal safety regime and clearer rules for use, storage, and maintenance in everyday traffic. Source: Ministry briefing.
The letter also highlights a worrying rise in accidents involving PIMs, some of which have resulted in fatalities, a situation attributed in part to violations of operating procedures. Mikhail Chernikov, head of the State Traffic Inspectorate, stated at a July press conference that the number of accidents involving electric scooters and similar devices in the first half of 2023 grew by about sixty percent compared with the same period a year earlier. The figures reflect a broader shift in the urban mobility landscape and point to the urgent need for standardized safety checks and certification processes. Source: Traffic authorities update.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade is persuaded that mandatory certification tests would improve the safety of electric scooters. Historically, mandatory certification has applied to products that may threaten human health and safety, property, or the environment, including medical devices, medicines, children’s products, and cosmetics. A three-year certification cycle would be typical for these products, creating a formal assurance framework for manufacturers and consumers alike and aligning with international approaches to product safety. Source: Regulatory overview.
Earlier, it was reported that the Russian market had seen a surge in interest around a rugged, high-capacity pickup model referred to as KingKong. This note sits within a broader context of ongoing discussions about urban mobility, safety standards, and market regulation as Russia navigates modernization of its personal mobility sector and related regulatory practices. Source: Market briefing.