As you’ve probably heard by now, the Auto Mobility State of the Industry Report is full of interesting data on the wheelchair accessible vehicle and auto adaptive equipment markets. For instance, did you know that QAP dealers in the U.S. and Canada accounted for about 19,000 personal use (non-commercial) WAV sales in 2023? Among many other variables, the report breaks down what % of those were new chassis / new conversion, used chassis / new conversion, or used chassis / used conversion, as well as how many were sold by each Location Market Area size.
One surprising finding from the 2023 data was that Large market area locations (those with a population of 1,250,000 – 2,499,000 within a 25-mile radius of the dealership’s postal code) actually sold more conversions on average than their counterparts in the Metro market area locations (those with a population of 2,500,000+ within a 25-mile radius).
The WAVs Conversion Mix section of the report also includes comparative data on side entry vs. rear entry, power vs. manual ramp, and WAVs sold with/without hand controls (driver vs. passenger). And for those interested in Auto Adaptive Equipment, that section of the report features totals and Location Market Area breakdowns of Unoccupied Lifts, Exterior Transfer Seats, Driving Controls and Electronic Securements. Looking to learn more? AMREF president Chad Blake and executive director Danny Langfield will be co-presenting a breakout session on the Innovation & Evolution learning track at the NMEDA Annual Conference in Kansas City on November 6th entitled, “If You Can’t Measure It, You Can’t Manage It,” and AMREF will also have a booth at the Expo. Hope to see you there…