The MV-1 Production Will Begin early 2011
May 31,2010
Volume production of the MV-1, the first factory-built and assembled wheelchair-accessible vehicle designed to meet the unique needs of the paratransit, taxi and consumer market, will commence in early 2011. The new vehicle will be powered by the Ford 4.6L 2V EFI V8 and the Ford 4R75E Electronic 4-speed automatic transmission and will be available in either gasoline or dedicated Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) models.
The MV-1 is the first and only vehicle built from the ground up in the United States to meet or exceed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) vehicle guidelines. Unlike other wheelchair-accessible vehicles, it is not a conversion or aftermarket retrofit. Safe, durable, and less expensive than other accessible vehicle choices, the MV-1 was specifically designed to meet the demands of paratransit and taxicab fleets as well as individual consumers.
The MV-1 production will commence at the AM General plant in Mishawaka, Indiana with volume production beginning in October. AM General, which designs and produces the military HUMVEE and assembled the HUMMER H2, has a world-renowned reputation for building rugged vehicles, based on eight decades of successful innovation and growth. Durability and safety are critical to MV-1 customers and AM General is best positioned to help deliver on those needs.
The MV-1 is the only vehicle in its class with an OEM-engineered and factory assembled dedicated CNG fuel system option to ensure the same durability, reliability and quality that fleets demand from gasoline powered vehicles. The clean-burning CNG vehicle features a range of 250 miles and best-in-class cargo compartment volume. As a result of a strategic partnership between VPG and Clean Energy Fuel Corp., Clean Energy intends to expand its CNG fueling infrastructure in key US markets to support fleets operating the CNG powered MV-1.
The new MV-1 features 56-inch high and 36-inch wide rear doors for easy wheelchair entrance via a wide ramp that carries a 1200-pound capacity yet easily stores beneath the floor inside the vehicle. The MV-1 can accommodate five passengers plus the driver, including up to two forward facing wheelchair riders. With an interior floor to ceiling height of nearly 5 feet, the MV-1 can easily accommodate even the largest electric wheelchairs and provides easy entry and exit for all passengers with or without mobility challenges.