New Independence™ Rolled Out at Naidex 2024

Held at the National Exhibition Centre, in Birmingham, Naidex provided the perfect launchpad for the all-new Ford Independence™ wheelchair accessible vehicle.

Assistive Products for Disabled People

Supporting the disabled community for more than 50 years, Naidex provides a practical opportunity for people with disabilities to find out more about a raft of assistive products and services. Of course, there’s a wealth of information on the internet these days but there’s no substitute for seeing products at first hand, trying them out and speaking face-to-face with expert advisors.

From wheelchairs, powerchairs and mobility scooters to adjustable beds, posture aids and home adaptations, the leading companies in their field were on hand to offer guidance and support. You could also find information on accessible holidays, accessible play equipment, activities for people with mobility impairments and special environments for people with a sensory impairment.

The event formula seems to have worked, too, with thousands of disabled people, with their families and carers, flocking to Birmingham to make Naidex 2024 the busiest and best disability exhibition for many years.

Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles

Availability of accessible transport is especially important to people with reduced mobility. We continue to see improvements in accessible public transport but there’s still a long wat to go.

Trains are generally accessible now but you need to book well in advance to make sure someone is there to meet you with access ramps to get on and off. Stations aren’t all great in terms of accessibility either. Yes, more bus manufacturers offer vehicles with fold-out steps but there are fewer and fewer buses!

No wonder more and more people are discovering that owning their own, wheelchair accessible car can prove transformational to daily living and personal freedom. Good reason, then, for the UK’s leading wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) manufacturer – Allied Mobility – to bring along a selection of their models for Naidex visitors to see and try for themselves.

On stand, at the heart of the show, you could see the record-selling Peugeot Rifter Horizon™ WAV, the upmarket Volkswagen Caddy Vista™ and the popular Ford Connect Freedom™. The clever Peugeot Rifter Inspire™ was also on display – a remarkably engineered, fully accessible car which enables a wheelchair occupant to directly enter the car and move all the way forward to the front row, either as – drive from-wheelchair car or to travel as an ‘up-front’ passenger.

New Independence for All

On this occasion, however, it was the Ford Independence™ WAV – based on the sparkling new Ford Tourneo Custom – which took pride of place among all the wheelchair accessible vehicles at the show.

The Independence™ RE model on display offers seating for up to six people of four seated passengers and a wheelchair passenger. Other models to follow include Independence™ RS, with seating for up to seven people and Independence™ Twin, which can comfortably carry two wheelchair occupants at the same time.

Allied Mobility’s previous model of Independence™ had already proved a winner, both on the Motability Scheme and with social transport providers. By comparison, the all-new model offers even greater space and accessibility for wheelchair users and their families and friends, together with smart new features like LED channel lighting, mounted either side of the wheelchair adapted floor section. Both stylish and practical, this new element certainly helped draw the crowds, with a steady stream of visitors waiting to get up close throughout the two days of the event.

Allied Mobility’s special advisors were also able to help show visitors check a range of used wheelchair accessible vehicles, as well as introducing others to the option of hiring a wheelchair accessible car.

Great Experience

Allied Mobility’s national sales manager, Ben Jenkins, is enthusiastic about the Naidex experience.

“This really was a fantastic show, from start to finish”, comments Ben. “We had nine of our top mobility advisors on hand to support visitors to the show, which represents a considerable commitment of our resources but I’m glad we did, as they were all kept busy.

“We saw many of our existing customers, who came by to say hello, as well as a host of people new to Allied Mobility. Either way, it’s great to get to meet people who need and use our products, as we can always learn something new and useful, by listening to their personal and family circumstances.

“To be honest, it was also quite a thrill to see just how much excitement there was over the new Ford Custom Independence™. I really love the vehicle and it was fabulous to see that so many Naidex visitors felt the same way!”

All-new Ford Custom Independence™ is available now, to buy or to lease through the Motability Cars Scheme.