A new wave of Chinese crossovers joins Yandex Drive fleets in Russia
In the cities of St. Petersburg and Sochi, Yandex Drive has introduced a fresh lineup of car-share vehicles. The latest entries are compact crossovers from China, the Haval Jolion and Geely Coolray, which are being added to the service’s fleets in these locations. According to the company’s press service, more than 100 new cars of these models will be deployed across both cities as part of the current refresh cycle. These developments mark a notable shift in the composition of Yandex Drive’s urban mobility options, expanding beyond the traditional car park previously common in the network. The rollout is framed as a phase of fleet modernization, offering riders newer technology and comfort in select markets (attribution: press service).
Haval Jolion configurations feature climate control, heated seats and steering wheel, cruise control, a camera system, parking sensors, and smartphone integration via MMC. Accessibility requires drivers to be at least 26 years old with a minimum of six years of licensed driving experience, aligning with standard safety policies for premium compact crossovers (attribution: press service).
Beyond St. Petersburg and Sochi, Yandex Drive also operates in Moscow, where the lineup includes budget-friendly models like the Volkswagen Polo and higher-end options such as the Audi A6 and Mercedes E200, along with vans and electric vehicles. In recent months, the Moscow fleet has continued to diversify with Chinese models, including the Geely Coolray, Haval Jolion, Chery Tiggo 7 Pro, and Geely Atlas Pro crossovers, reflecting a broader strategy to broaden vehicle choices for urban users (attribution: press service).
In Sochi, the Geely Coolray is equipped with air conditioning and a panoramic roof with a sliding feature, plus cruise control for a comfortable ride. The service allows usage by customers aged 21 and older who have more than two years of driving experience, ensuring that drivers meet basic safety and experience thresholds (attribution: press service).
Company representatives emphasize that the fleet renewal is a continuing process, not a one-off event. They anticipate additional new arrivals in the remainder of 2022 across all service cities, continuing the pattern of integrating more Chinese-made cars or AVTOVAZ products into the lineup. This ongoing refresh aligns with broader market trends toward diversified options and modern passenger vehicles in car-sharing networks (attribution: press service).
- In early September, reports indicated that Yandex was negotiating with AvtoVAZ and the Chinese BAIC Group and Chery for potential taxi-supply agreements, signaling strategic partnerships to expand fleet capacity and regional availability (attribution: press service).
- Further details and updates can be followed through Yandex Drive’s official communications and social media channels (attribution: press service).