Hoveround repositions with Merits deal

BRADENTON, Fla. – In a major shift, a new agreement with Merits Health Products USA will allow Hoveround, which was founded in 1992 as a direct-to-consumer manufacturer, to focus exclusively on providing mobility products through Hoveround Mobility Solutions (HMS).  

Under the agreement, Hoveround will sunset its legacy MPV5, LX5, HD6, XHD and FWD models and offer replacement models from Merits Health. Hoveround will serve existing customers who have those models through Merits Health’s storage, shipping and technical and parts support capabilities. 

“Our specialty is not manufacturing,” said Adam Frerichs, CEO of HMS. “We’ve had some legacy products that worked well, but what we’re good at is being a mobility company. This is a situation where we can get out of the manufacturing side of things and still keep our existing customers serviced.” 

Hoveround officially launched HMS in 2024, allowing the well-known name in standard mobility devices to expand into complex rehab technology (CRT). 

Just as the agreement allows Hoveround to focus on its customer relationships – something it supports with a large online and call center presence – it allows Merits Health to further focus on developing, making and selling more products, says Andrew Maskery, president of Merits Health. 

“It’s a very nice solution that allows both companies to grow and focus on what they do well,” he said. 

The two companies will remain separate, and the agreement is not exclusive. It does not preclude HMS from carrying and providing products from other manufacturers, including Permobil, Pride/Quantum and Sunrise Medical; nor does it preclude Merits Health from selling its products to other providers.  

“We’ll be working with and selling to Hoveround just like we work with and sell to other providers,” Maskery said. “The only difference is, we’re now supporting Hoveround’s legacy products. We’re not becoming a competitor to other providers; we’re not going direct to consumer.”  

While Hoveround will now “lead with” Mertis Health products in its interactions with customers, Frerichs emphasizes that Hoveround will continue to put customers first. 

“Our end goal is always to provide the best product,” he said. “It’s going to take more than one manufacturer to do that.”