The Russian auto industry will replenish its taxi fleets – Kommersant FM
[ad_1]
The relevant State Duma committee approved the bill on taxi localization. Now a document that could oblige carriers to use only cars manufactured in Russia should be submitted to deputies for consideration in the first reading. Business itself opposed the initiative. In particular, according to Vedomosti, the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs sent a letter to the Ministry of Transport back in 2023 criticizing this measure. However, the head of AvtoVAZ, Maxim Sokolov, who is also on the board of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, said that he knew nothing about this and noted that he “sees no reason for panic reactions” in the market. The topic will be continued by Vladislav Viktorov.
The main thesis of the authors of the bill on taxi localization is that the measure will reduce the dependence of taxi companies on imported cars and provide immunity to sanctions. It is assumed that the more machine components are produced in Russia, the less risks there are for the industry. And regions will be able to set this threshold.
Nevertheless, experts call the thesis controversial, because even AvtoVAZ’s high level of localization did not save it from the consequences of restrictions. That is why the updated Vesta still does not have an automatic transmission. But in theory, taxi companies may have access to a relatively wide selection of cars, unless regional authorities go too far, says Oleg Moseev, head of the Automarketer project:
“So far, AvtoVAZ and Haval are on the list. If we look to tomorrow, then “Moskvich” and “Avtotor”. I just hope for sanity. Our taxi fleet, especially in the regions, is not the freshest. If we also limit the purchase of new cars only to AvtoVAZ, we will get additional difficulties. A taxi requires different cars, and I can’t even imagine how, for example, a Vesta can take a family of four with suitcases to the airport.”
The head of AvtoVAZ, Maxim Sokolov, most actively supports the bill on taxi localization. At the end of 2023, he tried to calm the market, arguing that there was no talk of banning foreign cars. After all, the localization requirement may apply, for example, only to economy class. And those who already have foreign cars in their fleet will be able to continue using them.
But you need to understand that permits for a specific car are obtained only for five years, and when the replacement period approaches, localized cars will have to be purchased at inflated prices, believes the President of the Moscow Transport Union Yuri Sveshnikov: “Everything will depend on the ratio of price and quality of localized vehicles . If their cost is significantly higher than the cars that are available today, then carriers simply will not be able to purchase them.
Especially taking into account the fact that Taxi Law No. 580 was adopted, which gives the right to engage in passenger transportation, obtaining permission for individuals in the status of self-employed; there are quite a lot of them today, and these are not the richest people. Nobody says that with a high degree of localization, the machines will be cheaper, because organizing the production of components for localization is not so easy.”
At the same time, carriers will not be able to shift costs, otherwise they risk being left without customers. Therefore, it will be easier for them to simply leave the market. Natalya Lozinskaya, executive director of the National Taxi Council association, says that there are more effective ways to stimulate sales of Russian cars:
“This topic needs to be promoted with the help of state support, that is, not to force taxi drivers to purchase cars, but to create such conditions so that localized cars appear on the market in sufficient quantities and at reasonable prices. Now, unfortunately, our cars are not enough.
It is impossible to force an entrepreneur or a taxi company to purchase cars that do not meet the technical specifications, will not be comfortable for the driver and will not be affordable for the buyer.”
There is a possibility that the matter will not be limited to localized taxi cars. Back in 2022, the head of AvtoVAZ, Maxim Sokolov, proposed using only domestically assembled cars in car sharing. In this case, some users will have to remember how to drive a manual transmission, since it is still unknown exactly when the Russian manufacturer will start installing automatic transmissions on its cars.
Everything is clear with us – Telegram channel “Kommersant FM”.
[ad_2]
Source link
