Draft:Motability Operations Ltd

Motability Operations Ltd

Formerly	Motability Finance Ltd
Founded	1978 (1978)
Headquarters	London
Area served	United Kingdom
Key people	Andrew Miller (CEO)
Services	Operate the Motability Scheme on behalf of Motability
Revenue	£4.2 billion
Net income	£130 million (2016)
Number of employees	~800
Parent	Motability Operations Group PLC, owned by: Barclays Lloyds Banking Group HSBC NatWest Group
Website	mo.co.uk

Motability Operations Ltd is a car leasing services company based in the United Kingdom which runs the Motability Scheme, with oversight from the Motability Foundation. They run the largest car leasing scheme in the United Kingdom, with over 800,000 vehicles.

About

Headquartered in London with offices in Bristol, Edinburgh and Coalville, Motability Operations Ltd is a UK-based private company responsible for delivering the Motability Scheme, a program designed to enable disabled people, their families and their carers to lease a new car, scooter or powered wheelchair, using their disability benefit.

The company is governed by the Motability Foundation, which sets the Scheme’s strategic direction and oversees performance.

Owned by Barclays, Lloyds Banking Group, HSBC, and NatWest Group, Motability Operations Ltd aims to make a modest return on its asset base to reliably borrow money, buy vehicles and ensure they remain affordable to Motability Foundation beneficiaries. The company does not pay dividends to shareholders. Any surplus income is used to improve the Motability Scheme and secure its long-term future, or it is donated to the Motability Foundation.

The Chairman of the Board is Stephen O’Brien (joined 1 April 2019) and the Chief Executive is Andrew Miller (joined January 2021).

History

Motability Operations Ltd (formerly Motability Finance Ltd), was established in 1978, a year after Motability (now the Motability Foundation) was founded by Lord Sterling of Plaistow and the late Lord Goodman. The Motability Scheme, also founded in 1978 was initially targeted at motorists aged 16–19 years, with around 220 applications being processed at the beginning of the scheme. Participating manufacturers included British Leyland (Rover Company), Chrysler (Peugeot), Ford Motor Company and Vauxhall.

By 1997, 21 manufacturers were participating in providing vehicles for the Motability Scheme, with a range of models from Citroen, Fiat, Mazda, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault and more.

In 2005, the Good Condition Payment initiative began. The payment gave every customer handing back a well-looked-after car with no claims a one-off discretionary payment.

In 2010, Motability Operations Ltd took over the running of the Powered Wheelchair and Scooter Scheme. This allowed customers to have the same leasing package as the Car Scheme.

By 2013, the first 100% electric vehicle, the Nissan Leaf, was available on the Motability Scheme.

In 2023, the number of customers with an electric vehicle on the Motability Scheme increased to 30,000 customers which included the installation of over 20,000 home chargepoints across the UK.

Operations and Services

Motability Operations Ltd has the exclusive contract to administer the Motability Scheme. It oversees various aspects of the leasing process, including negotiating vehicle pricing with manufacturers every quarter and setting and monitoring service standards for the dealer network, adaptation suppliers, breakdown services, and insurance providers.

The Scheme offers a lease package that includes insurance coverage, routine servicing and maintenance, Breakdown assistance, tyre and windscreen replacement. Insurance for the Scheme is provided exclusively by Direct Line Motability as of September 2023.

Direct Line offers a dedicated Motability division with specific requirements for named drivers, including no or minor endorsements on their driving licence in the last five years. The insurance policy includes a £100 excess for claims. A third driver can be included, subject to certain conditions, including living with the disabled customer and meeting specific age and vehicle requirements. Drink-driving convictions require five years from the conviction date before eligibility is restored.

Breakdown cover is provided by the RAC Limited, while adaptations are supplied and fitted by accredited independent specialists. Customers apply via accredited main car dealerships.

The Wheelchair and Scooter Scheme, previously operated by Route2mobility, was taken over by Motability Operations Ltd in June 2010.

Criticism and Controversies

In 2018, Motability Operations Ltd faced scrutiny from the National Audit Office (United Kingdom) regarding its profit levels, executive remuneration, and financial reserves. The report highlighted concerns over the size of the company's reserves and the high compensation packages for its executives. In response, a parliamentary committee recommended the former Motability Operations’ CEO, Mike Betts’ £1.7 million salary “totally unacceptable”

In the wake of the controversy, Mike Betts resigned, and Motability Operations Ltd committed to improving its governance and financial transparency. Motability Operations Ltd has since made efforts to address these issues, including reviewing executive remuneration and communicating more openly about the use of its financial reserves.

Partnerships and Initiatives

Motability Operations Ltd collaborates with various partners, including vehicle manufacturers, insurers, and repair services, to provide a comprehensive mobility solution for disabled people. The company also works with organisations such as Purple Space and Team BRIT, supporting initiatives that promote disability inclusion and awareness.