Pebley Beach recruits specialist to look after growing number of Motability customers
Swindon-based motor dealer Pebley Beach has recruited a specialist to look after a growing number of customers hiring a new car through the Motability scheme.
Motability is a national initiative which allows recipients of the Disability Living Allowance to lease a new car with little or no advance payment.
Last month, the charity chose Pebley Beach as a venue to meet the new disabilities minister, Justin Tomlinson. The Swindon North MP presented the keys of a Hyundai i10 to constituent Madge Trinder, who has had one shoulder and two hip replacements, which makes driving difficult.
Tasked with looking after Pebley Beach’s Motability customers is Rob Gray, who was previously Motability consultant at Vauxhall dealer Skurrays for 12 years.
“Motability is a unique scheme that gives people freedom, gives them peace of mind, and gives them the ability to access the outside world,” said Rob.
“The Pebley Beach brands – Hyundai and Suzuki – give Motability customers a great range of options, often with low or no advance payment.
“People with mobility issues like cars that they do not have to struggle into our out of, so the Suzuki SX4 S-Cross and Hyundai ix20 are very popular with Motability customers, due to their high driving position and high doors.
“The SX4 with automatic transmission is available with an advance payment of £299, while the ix20 auto is available with no advance payment at all.
“The new Hyundai Tucson will be massively popular with Motability customers,” he predicted. “The 1.7 diesel with manual transmission is available without an advance payment, while the automatic is available from £1,199.
“What’s more, with Motabilty everything is covered – tyres, servicing, breakdown, windscreen and insurance. Customers just have to put fuel in it.”
MD Dominic Threlfall said: “Pebley Beach is the premier choice for Motability customers in Swindon and Cirencester. All of our staff are trained to Motability specifications, but our appointment of Rob as our resident expert shows our commitment to the scheme and its customers.”
Before handing over car keys, Rob played with keys of a different kind: he started his working life as an apprentice piano restorer. He was then sales director at TV and hi-fi specialists Hickmans in Swindon for 25 years before joining the motor trade.
Rob lives in Swindon with his wife and 60,003 pets – three dogs, and 60,000 honey bees.
