Russian authorities consider VAT cut to boost autonomous transport

The Russian government is considering lowering the VAT rate to 10% for services of highly automated vehicles (HAVs), including passenger transport, courier delivery, and freight. This was reported by Kommersant based on three sources involved in developing the proposals. The discussions are happening in August 2026 with the IT industry, and changes may be made to the Tax Code. Currently, the standard VAT rate is 22%, which makes autonomous transport uncompetitive. The reduced rate would level the playing field and could increase the civilian unmanned industry's turnover to 2 trillion rubles by 2036-2040. The measure is also seen as a way to mitigate shortages of couriers, taxi drivers, and truck drivers. However, sources emphasize that a law on HAVs is needed for full implementation. The office of Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko and the Ministry of Digital Development confirmed that discussions are ongoing within a working group on AI. As of August 2026, unmanned trucks, taxis, and trams operate only under experimental legal regimes. The Ministry of Transport prepared a draft law in June 2026, but it has not been submitted to the State Duma. Yandex is a key player in the HAV segment, planning to have 200 driverless cars and 100 trucks by year-end, with the market potentially exceeding 100 billion rubles by 2031. Experts note that the VAT cut would particularly help freight carriers facing financial difficulties, and it could be implemented independently of the HAV law, as taxation is based on economic results.