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Daihatsu celebrates Motability success with special deal

28th March 2008 Print
Daihatsu celebrates Motability success with special deal Japanese compact car specialist, Daihatsu, is celebrating its Motability success with all Materia manual models available at nil advanced payment.

It means anyone who receives the Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance can use their allowance on a new Materia on the Motability Scheme.

The recipient simply uses their weekly allowance, which covers the lease of a brand-new car every three years and includes insurance, servicing and maintenance, full breakdown assistance and even tyre and windscreen replacement.

Daihatsu is this year enjoying a 100 per cent increase in Motability business and could reach almost 500 units by year-end. The company joined the Motability scheme last year and quickly attracted customers, representing 5 per cent of total sales.

Motability Operations manages the largest contract hire fleet in Europe, representing a current total fleet of over 47,000 vehicles. Over seven per cent of new car sales in the UK are for cars on the Motability Scheme.

Launched in mid-2007, the 1.5 litre Materia five-door belongs to a style of car already attracting a cult following in both Japan and the United States.

Its boxy yet wide and squat design liberates outstanding interior space within dimensions similar to the Vauxhall Meriva and Renault Modus.

The Materia offers 619 litres of load space with the rear seat folded and either 294 or 181 litres with the rear seat upright (VDA) depending on whether the seat is slid forwards or backwards.

Equipment levels are also high and include: driver, passenger and side airbags, air-conditioning, four electric windows, CD tuner with six speakers, remote control central door locking, driver’s seat height adjustment, sliding and reclining rear seat, alloy wheels and front fog lamps.

Operations Director for Daihatsu Vehicle Distributors Limited, Paul Hegarty, said: “Materia offers Motability customers outstanding space, versatility and access, with tall and wide-opening doors for the less agile.

“We also offer an automatic version with a £750 advanced payment and as a result we see the Motobility Car Scheme as a fundamental avenue for future sales growth.”

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Daihatsu celebrates Motability success with special deal