Russia Mandates All Taxis Be Locally Made by 2026
President Vladimir Putin on Friday signed a law mandating that all taxi fleets in Russia use domestically manufactured vehicles.
Starting March 1, 2026, vehicles used for passenger transportation must either meet a minimum localization requirement or have been manufactured between March 1, 2022, and March 1, 2025.
Cars produced after that window will be assessed on a case-by-case basis until 2033, after which only vehicles meeting the localization requirement will be allowed.
The law includes a staggered rollout: western Russia’s Kaliningrad region and Siberian territories will get a two-year extension, while the Far East will have until 2030 to comply.
Only a handful of models currently meet the criteria, including Russia’s Lada and Chinese brands like Haval, BAIC, and Kaiyi.
The new mandate, meant to bolster Russia’s sanctions-hit auto industry, expands a system already in place for state contract vehicles.
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