At the end of 1884, American entrepreneur Smith made the first attempt to organize bus transportation in Moscow. He proposed to the city authorities to launch 25 buses on 10 routes. However, his initiative faced legal difficulties: the laws passed by the city council did not allow such vehicles to operate on the streets.

In 1897-1898, despite the existence of necessary laws, a new attempt to introduce bus transportation encountered resistance from the city police. The police believed that the narrow streets of Moscow were unsuitable for large buses.

Nevertheless, on July 17, 1907, Count Sheremetev opened the first bus line connecting the tram terminal in Maryina Roshcha with Ostankino. Two open buses, accommodating 8-12 passengers, operated on the route. These buses were only in service during the summer, and a year later the route was closed.

In 1908, two more routes appeared: from Petrovsky Park to Pokrovsky-Glebovo and from Semyonovskaya Zastava to Izmailovsky Zoo. At the end of July 1908, the City Railways Administration acquired a 'self-propelled omnibus,' which ran for three weeks from Theater Square to Bolotnaya Square and Serpukhov Gates, but soon broke down, likely due to poor road conditions. This was the first attempt to launch a bus in the city center.

In 1922, a body shop was organized at the Moscow AMO plant under the direction of I. Herman, where buses began to be produced. That same year, about 40 open-body buses were manufactured on White truck chassis.

The first bus route in Moscow began operation on April 18, 1924, connecting Presnenskaya Zastava and Serebryany Bor. The successful operation of this line led to the launch of a route within the city limits in the summer of the same year.

By the beginning of World War I, bus transportation had become a common occurrence, and all routes were serviced by private entrepreneurs.