MV-1 was specifically designed for wheelchair access.
A multi-purpose van that was intended to be used for a variety of duties, including transporting the disabled, is back in production.
The big MV-1 is now being produced by AM General, the company most widely known for producing the original HUMVEE for the military, as well as the Hummer H2 for General Motors. The MV-1 was developed by a start-up company, the Vehicle Production Group, or VPG, which halted production after running out of money two years ago.
“We are proud to create new jobs and deliver this truly revolutionary vehicle into the hands of a deserving market,” said AM General President and CEO Charlie Hall, during the start-up of production at the company’s plant in Mishawka, Indiana.
With VPG out of business, the MV-1 project was taken over by Mobility Ventures LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AM General, and it being produced at the same 675,000 square-foot factory that once produced the Hummer H1 and H2 models, as well as a modified version of the Ford Transit Connect. AM General also produced the MV-1 under contract for the Vehicle Production Group.
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The original venture was funded by a Department of Energy loan – borrowing from the same program that lent support to both Tesla Motors and Fisker Automotive. But when VPG’s finances started to collapse, the DoE pulled the loan and the MV-1 appeared to be destined for the rust heap.
The specially designed vehicle was originally expected to target a variety of different clients, including both the limousine and taxicab fleets, as well as the market for specialized vehicles for the disabled. AM General plans to focus on the all those markets going forward.
Among other things, it says it has a chance to provide special mobility-enhanced taxis for the huge New York City fleet.
“Definitely one of the markets we’re looking at,” explains spokesman Jeff Adams, “the livery and fleet markets. This is a perfect vehicle considering it’s universally accessible.”
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Federal data show there are 54 million Americans with varying degrees of disability, 14 million of whom require some assistance with mobility. A full 4 million need wheelchairs or scooters for mobility.
Mobility Ventures hopes the MV-1 will have a significant appeal to that market as it comes from the factory already equipped for use by those in scooters or wheelchairs. Traditionally, disabled motorists were forced to turn to customizers who would make the necessary changes to conventional sedans, vans or sport-utility vehicles, an approach that could force compromises to access or storage.
The MV-1 uses a 4.6-liter Ford V-8 engine that can be converted to run on natural gas, lowering operating costs.
VPG delivered over 2,000 of the MV-1s before production was halted, and had an equal number of orders in hand. The vehicle was originally offered at a starting price of $39,950, but will now cost $45,000 with a gasoline-powered version of the Ford V-8. The CNG model will start at $55,000.