The US Department of Energy (DOE) finalized a nearly $50 million loan to The Vehicle Production Group LLC; the loan will support the development of the six-passenger MV-1, a purpose-built wheelchair accessible vehicle that will run on compressed natural gas. (Earlier post.) The vehicle will be produced at the Mishawaka, Indiana AM General Plant.
Vehicle Production Group, a new American car company based in Miami, Florida, says MV-1 is the only purpose-built vehicle that is designed from the ground up for wheelchair accessibility. The company also states that MV-1 is the only factory-built light-duty vehicle to date that meets or exceeds the guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The vehicle features a deployable access ramp with a 1,200-pound weight capacity, a 36-inch entryway and an interior that accommodates up to six occupants with the optional jump seat, including one or two wheelchair passengers and the driver.
Vehicle Production Group estimates that at full capacity, the project will produce over 22,000 vehicles per year. The company estimates the project will produce over 100 jobs in Indiana, in addition to approximately 800 more direct and indirect jobs across 17 states for the assembly, part suppliers, production and sale of the vehicle.
DOE’s Loan Programs Office oversees the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) Loan Program. The Department has provided over $8 billion in loans to advanced technology vehicle manufacturers, including Ford Motor Company, Fisker Automotive, Nissan North America and Tesla Motors.