Freedom Mobility

What Freedom Mobility does

Freedom Mobility is a privately held New Zealand mobility vehicle rental company specialising in disability-modified rental cars and vans for disabled drivers and passengers. The company operates a fleet of over 200 modified vehicles, making it New Zealand's largest mobility vehicle rental fleet. Vehicles are equipped with hand controls (push/pull, push/rock, and Sure Grip Radial systems), left foot accelerators, wheelchair accessible conversions with electric lifts (VW Crafter, Renault Master, Mercedes Sprinter, Nissan Caravan), steering wheel spinners, boot cranes, and indicator extensions. All modifications are engineered and installed by a sister company, Vehicle Adaptions, which shares a Christchurch site with Freedom Mobility's South Island operations. Qualified driving instructors provide on-road familiarisation training for customers new to modified controls.

The business operates a direct-to-consumer and sales-led model with a strong channel partnership layer. Customers reach Freedom Mobility via the website, phone (0800 864 2529), or email, and vehicles are delivered and collected nationwide to homes, hotels, and airports regardless of where the five regional bases (Auckland HQ, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown, Dunedin) are located. The company is an approved ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation) Service Supplier, with case managers and occupational therapists functioning as a recurring referral channel that funnels government-funded injury recovery rentals via purchase orders. Revenue streams comprise short-term rentals (usage-based, for tourism and occasional use), long-term rentals (subscription/recurring for extended injury recovery or permanent disability), ACC-funded rentals as a third-party managed service, and professional driving instruction services. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is quoted per enquiry.

The company serves three primary segments: ACC-funded injury recovery clients, tourists with disabilities visiting New Zealand, and individuals with permanent physical disabilities. Secondary segments include schools, events, retirement villages, and healthcare providers. All vehicles meet VANZ and LVVTA quality standards, the company is a member of the Rental Vehicle Association of New Zealand and Tourism Industry Aotearoa, and it holds Sustainable Tourism certification. An environmental partnership with Trees That Count has resulted in over 650 native trees planted, with one tree donated for every ACC hire exceeding two weeks. Operations appear founder/management controlled, with no disclosed institutional capital or venture backing beyond two small Callaghan Innovation grants in 2020.

Name

Freedom Mobility

Legal name

Freedom Mobility Ltd

Website

https://freedommobility.co.nz

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Freedom Mobility is New Zealand's largest mobility vehicle rental company, operating a 200+ vehicle fleet of disability-modified cars and vans (hand controls, wheelchair lifts, left foot accelerators) with nationwide door-to-door delivery, serving ACC-funded injury recovery clients, disabled tourists, and individuals with permanent disabilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Accessible Vehicle Rental

NAICS

Passenger Car Rental (532111), Special Needs Transportation (485991)

SIC

Services-Auto Rental & Leasing (No Drivers) (7510)

akta.pro primary industry

Wheelchair-Accessible & Mobility Vehicle Transport (HSABAOAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mobility Device Sales, Rental & Service (Wheelchairs, Scooters, Walkers) (HSABAKAC), Accessible / Wheelchair-Accessible Taxi & Chauffeur (THADAEAK)

Keywords

• Mobility vehicle rental
• Accessible vehicle hire
• Wheelchair accessible vans
• Disability transportation services
• Modified vehicle rental

Headquarters

HQ city

Christchurch

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Vehicle Rental - Short Term: Short-term rental of modified vehicles for injury recovery, tourism, and occasional use. Customers pay rental fees for days or weeks. ACC may cover costs for approved claimants.
2. Vehicle Rental - Long Term: Long-term hire of modified vehicles for extended injury recovery, permanent disability, or ongoing accessibility needs. Billed on extended rental periods.
3. ACC Funded Rentals: Renta revenues covered by ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation) for approved claimants recovering from injuries. ACC acts as a third-party payer through purchase orders.
4. Driving Instruction Services: On-road training and vehicle familiarisation lessons provided by qualified driving instructors for customers new to modified vehicle controls.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Freedom Mobility rents modified cars and vans to people with disabilities, injury recovery claimants, and accessible tourism travellers across New Zealand. The fleet of 200+ vehicles is split across wheelchair accessible vans, hand-controlled vehicles, and left-foot accelerator vehicles, supported by on-road driving instruction, nationwide door-to-door delivery, and ACC-funded rental coordination.

Product overview

Freedom Mobility operates as a single unified rental service offering modified mobility vehicles for people with disabilities across New Zealand. The product portfolio centers on three main vehicle modification categories: Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (equipped with lifts and ramps), Hand Controlled Vehicles (with steering wheel-mounted accelerator/brake controls), and Left Foot Accelerator Vehicles (for drivers who cannot use their right foot). The company maintains a fleet of over 200 vehicles available for short and long-term hire, ranging from compact hybrids to full-size wheelchair vans. Ancillary services include qualified driving instruction for modified vehicles, nationwide door-to-door delivery, ACC-funded rental coordination, and 24/7 roadside assistance. Specific vehicle models include the Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid, VW Crafter, Honda Freed Hybrid, Toyota Fielder Hybrid, Honda Accord, Nissan Serena, Renault Master MWB and Long Wheelbase, Mercedes Sprinter, Ford Tourneo, and Nissan Caravan NV350.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Rental Rental of vans (VW Crafter, Renault Master, Mercedes Sprinter, Nissan Caravan, Ford Tourneo) modified with rear entry electric wheelchair lifts enabling wheelchair passengers to board without transferring from their chair. Available for short and long-term hire across New Zealand with door-to-door delivery.
• Hand Controlled Vehicle Rental Rental of cars and minivans (Mitsubishi Outlander, Honda Freed Hybrid, Toyota Fielder Hybrid, Honda Accord, Nissan Serena) fitted with Push/Pull, Push/Rock, or Sure Grip Radial hand controls that transfer accelerator and brake functions to the steering wheel, enabling drivers with leg or foot impairments to operate vehicles safely.
• Left Foot Accelerator Vehicle Rental Rental of vehicles fitted with an accelerator pedal relocated to the left side for drivers who cannot use their right foot due to amputation, injury, or lower-limb disability.
• ACC Funded Mobility Vehicle Rental Mobility vehicle rental coordination for individuals recovering from injuries, with costs covered by ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation) for approved claimants through established purchase orders and vendor codes.
• Driving Instruction and Vehicle Familiarisation Lessons On-road training and familiarisation lessons delivered by qualified driving instructors (including Gary Bishell in Bay of Plenty and Sefa) teaching clients how to operate modified controls on actual roads, tailored to their recovery or disability context.

Quantifiable outcome

• ACC estimates around 130,000 New Zealanders recover from pre-Christmas injuries annually, indicating a large addressable market for injury-related mobility rentals.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vehicle AdaptionscoreTechnology or IntegrationSister company of Freedom Mobility that engineers and installs all the vehicle modifications for the Freedom fleet (hand controls, wheelchair lifts, adaptive devices). This integrated manufacturing relationship ensures quality control and specialised design of modifications for Freedom's rental vehicles. Ange Bates is based in the same building as Vehicle Adaptions in Christchurch.
• Make-A-Wish New ZealandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity partnership providing accessible vehicles for Tamariki (children) living with serious or critical illnesses to fulfil wishes, such as a snow adventure trip to Queenstown. Freedom Mobility donates vehicle access for Make-A-Wish experiences.
• Downer ConstructionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDowner hired one of Freedom Mobility's wheelchair-accessible vans to improve accessibility at Middlemore Hospital during a railway station upgrade when lifts were out of service. The van ferried mobility-impaired passengers to station platforms, demonstrating the vehicle's versatility for construction and infrastructure projects.
• Rental Vehicle Association of New Zealand (RVANZ)minorOthersIndustry membership showing Freedom Mobility as a member of the Rental Vehicle Association of New Zealand, indicating adherence to industry standards and best practices.
• Drive SafeminorOthersDrive Safe is promoted on the Freedom Mobility website as a safety resource, indicating a partnership or collaboration to promote road safety for drivers with disabilities.
• Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFreedom Mobility is a member of Tourism Industry Aotearoa, positioning the company within New Zealand's tourism ecosystem and supporting its tourism customer segment.
• Sustainable TourismminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFreedom Mobility holds a Sustainable Tourism certification/recognition, signalling environmental responsibility to tourists and aligning with the eco-conscious traveller segment.
• Trees That CountminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental initiative through which Freedom Mobility pledges to donate a native tree for every ACC hire lasting over two weeks. Over 650 trees have been planted through this initiative. This partnership serves as a sustainability differentiator and community engagement program.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• BraunAbility: Global manufacturer of wheelchair-accessible vehicles, lifts, and adaptive driving equipment, with rental partnerships in multiple markets. Comparable via the modification technology stack (similar to Freedom's Vehicle Adaptions sister company) and accessible vehicle offerings.
• Hertz Global Holdings: Major global car rental brand offering adapted/hand-control vehicles in many markets. Comparable broad incumbent in passenger vehicle rental that overlaps with Freedom's general car rental layer but lacks its specialized disability focus.
• Enterprise Mobility: One of the world's largest vehicle rental operators, with adapted/hand-control vehicles available across many locations. Comparable as a passenger car rental incumbent that increasingly supports accessible mobility needs.
• Avis Budget Group: Global car rental group offering adapted vehicle options through Avis Accessible and related programs. Comparable broad incumbent in passenger car rental with accessibility features rather than a specialized accessible-only fleet.
• MobilityWorks: Largest US retailer and renter of wheelchair-accessible vans and adaptive equipment, offering both sales and rentals. Comparable in offering accessible vehicles for disabled drivers and passengers, but broader scale and primarily sales-led.

Direct peers

• Rollx Vans: US manufacturer and renter of wheelchair-accessible vans with custom conversions (ramps, lifts, hand controls). Closely aligned to Freedom Mobility on modification technology and accessible vehicle rental, although primarily US-focused.
• Wheelchair Getaways: US-based accessible vehicle rental company specializing in wheelchair-accessible van and SUV rentals for travelers with disabilities. Highly comparable self-drive model and customer use case (tourism and family travel) to Freedom Mobility's accessible tourism segment.
• Driving Miss Daisy: New Zealand companion driving service for seniors, people with disabilities, and those unable to drive themselves. Operates in the same NZ accessibility-mobility market and overlaps on customer base, though offers chaperoned rides rather than self-drive rentals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCF2T1DfPBB7_bs2VVcJNJgA
• Facebookfacebook.com/freedommobilityNZ
• Instagraminstagram.com/freedommobilitynz

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Freedom Mobility