Timeline applies to the M4 Nexa as announced 23 September 2026. Specifications are Permobil's published claims; availability and delivery dates vary by market and dealer from 1 November 2026. VAT relief eligibility is a general UK provision and must be confirmed per individual circumstances.
The confirmed timeline for UK buyers
Permobil announced on 23 September 2026 that the M4 Nexa will be introduced in phases across EMEA, Asia-Pacific and the Americas beginning 1 November 2026. The initial EMEA launch includes Germany, France, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Ireland, with additional European and distributor markets following throughout 2027. In practice, this puts the UK in the very first wave rather than a later one — but deliveries still flow through individual dealers, so the exact date your chair arrives will depend on your dealer, your configuration and how early you place the order.
For context, the rest of the world follows on its own schedule: Australia launches on 1 November 2026, New Zealand in the first quarter of 2027, and Japan in late 2027 subject to regulatory approval. In the Americas, the chair is expected to reach the US Department of Veterans Affairs following anticipated FDA 510(k) clearance in early October 2026, with full commercial availability in the United States and Canada planned for January 2027. If you are buying in Britain, the practical takeaway is simple: register your interest with a Permobil dealer now, ask when their first allocation arrives, and whether demonstration chairs are available. UK trade coverage in October 2026 noted that dealers wishing to arrange demonstrations can contact Permobil UK's trade desk directly — asking your local dealer about a demo day is therefore entirely reasonable. Permobil's announcement also points buyers to its local-market hub for country-specific availability updates, which is worth checking before you travel to a dealer, since phased launches can shift. Demonstration chairs are limited, so asking early also improves your chances of a home assessment before the first deliveries go out.
What UK buyers should check before ordering
Start with your home, not the brochure. The power base measures 21.5 inches (54 cm) wide and 33.5 inches (85 cm) long, with a tight 21.1-inch (54 cm) turning radius — genuinely compact, but still wider than many Victorian terrace doorways. Measure your narrowest doorway, hallway pinch points and bathroom, and compare the numbers before you fall in love with the chair. Permobil also claims the lowest seat-to-floor height in its class — 15 inches (39 cm) with anterior tilt — which is designed to make transfers more level and to bring users closer to standard-height tables; ask for a trial transfer during a demonstration so you can judge this yourself.
Next, think about fit and the future. Seat widths run from 12 to 22 inches (30 to 56 cm) and seat depths from 10 to 22 inches (25 to 56 cm) within a single seating system — ask for a proper seating assessment rather than guessing your size. One genuinely useful feature for long-term ownership is the modular architecture: seat width, seat depth, foot supports and arm supports can be adjusted with two Allen keys, with most adjustments possible while you stay seated. If needs change over time — growth, a health change, new positioning requirements — the same chair can be reconfigured rather than replaced, and the closed, protected-cable design is intended to support refurbishment and long-term serviceability. Ask the dealer who handles warranty repairs, how Permobil Connect's remote diagnostics and fault alerts are supported locally, and what the servicing intervals look like.
Finally, money and logistics. Ask for the full price including delivery, setup and batteries, and ask the dealer about VAT relief eligibility for chronically sick or disabled people — this is a general UK provision that many mobility buyers overlook, but whether it applies to you is something to confirm with the dealer or HMRC guidance, not a discount to assume. Confirm the delivery window in writing, ask what happens if your configuration is delayed, and take a home trial or extended demo before committing if one is offered.
The headline specifications, as published by Permobil
Every number below comes from Permobil's own announcement — they are the manufacturer's published claims, not independently tested results. Real-world performance, especially range, varies with user weight, terrain, temperature and how much the powered seating is used.
The compact base is 21.5 inches (54 cm) wide by 33.5 inches (85 cm) long, with a 21.1-inch (54 cm) turning radius and compact front casters that let the footplates tuck beneath the chair — useful for getting close to tables, work surfaces and vehicles. Seat-to-floor height goes as low as 15 inches (39 cm) with anterior tilt. Seat widths span 12 to 22 inches (30 to 56 cm); seat depths span 10 to 22 inches (25 to 56 cm) in a single seating system, which Permobil says is the broadest depth range in the compact category.
On seating functions, the chair carries the full powered range at those small seat widths: anterior tilt, posterior tilt, recline, elevating legrests and seat elevation (including ActiveHeight seat elevation and ActiveReach anterior tilt). The new patent-pending Nexa Seating System is designed around the body's natural pivot points to reduce unwanted displacement during powered positioning — Permobil reports 25 to 50 percent less user movement than its own Corpus seating system on its own measurements. Every chair is factory-connected through Permobil Connect, the company's 'always on' platform, which provides battery and range visibility, fault alerts before the chair stops, personalisation via the MyPermobil app, and remote diagnostics for providers. The battery is manufacturer-rated at 20+ miles (33+ km) of range even in the smallest configuration. The design is crash-tested, and Permobil notes quieter operation from reduced motor, brake, actuator and system noise.
