Russian drivers are changing how they approach car maintenance, leaning more toward quick fixes at service centers when something goes wrong instead of sticking with regular preventive upkeep. This shift was highlighted by Rossiyskaya Gazeta, citing Tatyana Ovchinnikova, who leads the Fit Service franchise—a widespread network of car service centers.
Ovchinnikova notes that preventive maintenance may decline further as the car fleet ages and experiences more frequent breakdowns. She points out that the growing number of sensors and electronic systems inside modern vehicles creates new failure points, which can push owners toward urgent, on-the-spot repairs rather than scheduled checkups. The trend reflects a broader pattern where technology outpaces routine servicing, forcing service centers to adapt to changing customer needs and expectations.
For Fit Service, data shows that preventive maintenance accounted for about 29% of service calls in 2023, while more targeted, repair-focused work comprised 71%. That distribution underscores a shift in consumer behavior—from proactive care to reactive fixes when issues actually arise. The implications extend beyond individual repairs, affecting how service networks schedule workloads, allocate parts inventories, and communicate with customers about risk, maintenance windows, and long-term vehicle health.
Gruzdev-Analyze founder Alexander Gruzdev describes another emerging challenge, often referred to as curb repair. He explains that breakdowns can occur suddenly, demanding immediate attention and urgent fixes. Such episodes place new pressure on shop workflows, technician readiness, and the availability of replacement components, especially in peak travel periods or in markets with high vehicle age demographics. This dynamic requires shops to rethink how they structure emergency response, triage, and turnaround times for urgent repairs.
Gruzdev emphasizes that service-center leadership must acknowledge this tendency toward urgent repairs when designing operating strategies. By aligning staffing, stock sourcing, and customer communication around the reality of sudden failures, centers can reduce downtime for drivers and improve overall satisfaction. The proposed approach includes clearer diagnostics, faster parts procurement, and streamlined intake procedures that accurately capture the nature and immediacy of the problem.
In St. Petersburg and similar urban markets, cars that have accrued miles over the years contribute to a higher incidence of non-routine repairs. Shops that previously relied heavily on seasonal maintenance now find themselves balancing preventive routines with a steady flow of urgent requests. The evolving landscape calls for a more flexible service model, one that blends routine inspections and proactive care with the agility to respond quickly when a vehicle would otherwise be sidelined for longer periods. Such adaptability helps sustain customer trust and keeps the city’s streets safer and more reliable for daily commuters.