Taxi Localization: New Rules from Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law that makes serious changes to the way taxis operate. Now, to become an official taxi, a car must meet certain requirements for the level of localization — the degree of production on Russian territory.
The document was published on the official Internet portal of legal information. According to the new law, cars for taxi service will be included in a special register only if one of two conditions is met:
- The vehicle's localization level must be at least 3200 points.
- The vehicle must be produced under special investment contracts (SPIC) concluded from March 1, 2022 to March 1, 2025.
It is important to note that from January 1, 2033, the only basis for including a vehicle in the taxi register will be compliance with the established localization level.
How is localization calculated?
The localization scoring system reflects the degree to which a car is produced in Russia. The more components and technological operations are performed in Russia, the higher the localization score. For example:
- Body welding at Russian factories is estimated at 400 points.
- Body painting - 500 points.
- The use of domestic metal (including aluminum) in an amount of at least 70% of the body weight - 200 points.
- Production of steering housing parts using casting, forging, stamping and machining - 60 points.
The level of localization is already a mandatory criterion when concluding government contracts.
When does the law come into force?
The law comes into force on March 1, 2026. However, in the Kaliningrad Region and the Siberian Federal District, the new regulations will come into effect on March 1, 2028, and in the Far East - on March 1, 2030.
Experts react
The Federation Council approved the law on May 21. Oleg Amosov, chairman of the public movement "Taxi Forum," believes that this law will exacerbate the problems with the legalization of the taxi industry, where about 2.5 million self-employed drivers work in the "gray zone." According to him, such taxi drivers often use cars that are not included in the taxi registry due to complex requirements for obtaining permits.
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