Taxi company representatives have raised concerns about worsening working conditions and warned that illegal carriers could return to the roads, according to RBC. The new economic reality is creating pressures that threaten the viability of many firms and could reduce the overall quality of taxi service. Costs are rising for leases, vehicles, and spare parts, while OSAGO premiums are increasing. Travel prices have not kept pace with these shifts, demand for taxi services is softening, and driver turnover is rising.
Rising prices for parts and vehicles on top of low fare levels are pushing drivers away from the industry, as earnings shrink. Competition among aggregators is also cooling. Starting April 15, a major player, Citymobil, is exiting the market, a move that further concentrates market power and could diminish the range of options for customers and drivers alike.
Experts warn that without support from aggregators and state policy, the taxi market could be left with only noncompetitive practices and unreliable services. This would erode transport safety and destabilize the sector as a whole. It could also fail to curb the influx of low-skilled workers into taxi work during national crises, when people seek new job opportunities and turn to taxi driving as a stopgap.
One proposed remedy is government subsidies for purchasing taxi vehicles at the federal level. Another path would be six months of lease payment relief and access to affordable loans for taxi companies. These measures aim to stabilize cash flow, sustain fleets, and maintain service availability during periods of financial stress.
Representatives of the aggregators reported in the publication that discussions with partners are already underway to explore policy options and funding mechanisms that could ease the burden on operators and improve business conditions. The focus remains on preserving reliability and safety for riders while ensuring drivers can earn a reasonable income as market dynamics shift.