What is a factory slot ? ( Before you can order, ) which car will suit my disability’s . If
A factory slot is more or less securing a ‘build date’ at the factory, before you can officially order the vehicle on the Motability scheme. Although it could mean you get your vehicle a bit earlier than waiting until you can officially order via Motability, it is a strategy with certain risks.
Mainly that Motability remove the vehicle from the scheme and it is no longer available to order on Motability when the time comes for it to be officially ordered.
Also, despite the ‘factory slot’ being booked, if you can only officially order the vehicle in the subsequent quarter, unless the dealer is willing to bear the cost (and put this in writing) , any rise in AP could land on your shoulders.
Also, if the vehicle ‘spec’ changes, as happened to some people who ordered Ford Focuses (Foci?) during lockdown but could only officially order from Motability from 1st July. Some completely lost out as Ford changed the vehicle specs from 1st July, Motability subsequently changed vehicle reference numbers and the AP’s changed in an upward direction.
So, regardless of what a dealer may tell you, I would say if you want to secure an early build slot, only go into it with your eyes open knowing there is risk to the strategy which is why Motability do not like dealers doing it.