With many foreign automakers halting operations in Russia, taxi fleets faced a narrowing of model choices for updates. Industry insights from Avtostat, cited by market representatives, illustrate the challenge clearly.
According to Pavel Stennikov, the head of the Maxim service press office, most taxi vehicles were purchased before the pandemic. As they endure heavy daily use, these cars typically reach the end of their viable service life after about three years. The market for affordable, new cars in Russia has essentially dried up, making replacements scarce. At the same time, taxi operators cannot rely on Chinese imports as a substitute because such vehicles remain costly and do not yield a favorable return on investment.
Yandex Go reports that renewal of fleets in the economy segment is proceeding more slowly. The bottleneck is a shortage of new sedans suitable for this segment, especially models with automatic transmissions. The company notes that roughly seven tenths of the sector’s demand for new vehicles is being met at present.
There have been indications that restrictions on foreign individuals could affect taxi and bus operations in certain regions. In Chelyabinsk, a policy already planned for 2024 would limit foreign nationals from regularly transporting passengers by bus in urban, suburban, and intercity routes. The ban would also cover passenger taxi services and chauffeured rental cars, reshaping the player landscape in urban transport.
Russian taxi aggregators have historically highlighted multiple strategies for cost control and efficiency. These include optimizing route planning, consolidating fleet utilization, and negotiating better terms with suppliers to reduce maintenance and leasing costs. Operators continue to explore every available lever to stay competitive in a market marked by regulatory shifts and shifting vehicle supply dynamics.