The Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade has published an initial list of vehicles meeting the requirements of the taxi "localization" law. The relevant information appeared in the publication "Kommersant".
The list includes 22 models from six automakers.
As reported by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the list will be updated as new models from Russian manufacturers or vehicles assembled in the territory of the Russian Federation enter the market.
The taxi "localization" law was approved by the State Duma in May of this year, and on May 23 it was signed by President Vladimir Putin.
Starting March 1, 2026, only vehicles assembled in Russia will be permitted to be registered in taxi registries. The vehicles must meet one of the criteria: either have an established level of localization (which implies the production of the vehicle or its components in the Russian Federation), or be produced under a special investment contract.
In the Kaliningrad region and the Siberian Federal District, the new rules will come into effect on March 1, 2028. In the Far East, the localization rules will take effect on March 1, 2030.
At the same time, the localization requirements will apply only to vehicles being added to regional taxi databases. Vehicles already in operation as of March 1, 2026, will be allowed to continue operating, as explained by Senator Andrey Kutyepov.
According to estimates from the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, the adoption of the law could lead to the departure of about 200 thousand drivers from the industry, which constitutes approximately 20% of the total number employed in this sector.