Vauxhall Zafira Helps Celebrate Motability Jubilee

The choice of model was fitting since Vauxhall was a founder member of Motability and is one of the largest single suppliers of cars to the scheme.

The keys to the specially adapted multi-award winning Zafira multi purpose vehicle were handed by Alistair Darling, Secretary of State for Transport to Mr Len Clark of Hammersmith, London at the ceremony at West End Vauxhall at Staples Corner, West Hendon, north-west London.

The Vauxhall Zafira Club is Len's third car on the Motability Scheme. With the aid of a Motability grant, it has been specially adapted with hand controls which operate the accelerator, brake and indicators. Len said: "Having a car means I can be independent, drive myself to the shops and the hospital for appointments. I wouldn't be able to cope without it."

Since 1978, Motability has given more than 1.7 million disabled people the opportunity to leave the confines of their homes through the provision of a car or powered wheelchair.

Vauxhall has hundreds of thousands of good friends in Motability. Last year the company gave the chance to get out and about to almost 40,000 people, a figure which represents 30 per cent of the total new cars entering the Motability network. The figure has grown steadily almost every year since 1978.

The Zafira is the most popular Vauxhall model ahead of Astra, but potential customers can select a variety of models ranging from Agila, Corsa, Astra, Astra Coupe, Meriva, Frontera and Vectra.

When needed, conversion is no problem since Vauxhall’s 420 Motability suppliers are well versed in whatever changes need to be made and can rapidly get any necessary work completed.

Many models are also capable of easy adaptation for wheelchair users.

Vauxhall’s main Mobility website also provides information on cars, dealers and services available to disabled drivers. The site is at www.vauxhall.co.uk/mobility.