Mobility Ventures adds luxury model to its lineup of wheelchair-accessible vans
Fri, 18 Jul 2014Mobility Ventures, the Indiana-based maker of vehicles designed and built to accommodate people with disabilities, is adding a luxury model to its lineup. Called the MV-1 LX, the vehicle joins Mobility Ventures' portfolio of purpose-built vans with wheelchair ramps.
The LX model adds more standard equipment, including leather seats, rosewood interior accents and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. It also adds 17-inch aluminum wheels, a navigation package with a seven-inch touchscreen, a rear backup camera and Sirius Satellite Radio. Other features include a body-colored grille with chrome accents, turn signals mounted in the mirrors and a two-stage power wheelchair ramp.
The LX is on sale now. Mobility Ventures also sells a more basic DX variant to consumers, an SE model designed for fleet use and a taxi.
All versions come with a 4.6-liter V8 engine sourced from Ford rated at 248 horsepower and 294 pound-feet of torque that runs on regular fuel. The same engine, converted to run on compressed natural gas, is an optional feature and makes 213 hp and 259 lb-ft. The LX variant can achieve a speed of 99 mph, compared 80 mph for the other models.
Mobility Ventures is owned by AM General, which builds the MVs in Mishawaka, IN. AM General is best known for making Humvees for military purposes and for building the Hummer H1 and H2 SUVs for General Motors.
The MV-1 line was previously produced by an entity called the Vehicle Production Group, which contracted production of the vans to AM General. When VPG went out of business due to cash problems, AM General bought the assets and resumed production.
The company now has about 100 dealers across the United States and Canada that sell MV-1s. Mobility Ventures markets its vehicles as an alternative to retrofitted vans, and has designed them to meet or exceed passenger guidelines set by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Scroll down to read the official press release.
New MV-1 LX Meets Demand of Discerning Passengers and Fleets
SOUTH BEND, Ind., July 16, 2014 – Mobility Ventures, an AM General company, is breaking new barriers with the launch of the MV-1 LX, the first luxury vehicle in the United States designed and built exclusively for people with disabilities.
The MV-1 LX has broad appeal for both individual consumers as well as the taxicab and limousine transportation industries. With plush leather seats, wood grain trim and a full digital navigation package, the LX is built for customers seeking an upgraded experience beyond the advanced features already built into the MV-1 line. The MV-1 LX offers improved features which provide complete independence and easy and safe accessibility for its users.
The MV-1 line of vehicles are the only American-made vehicles "purpose-built" for people with disabilities, specifically designed from the ground up to meet or exceed passenger needs and the guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Under the hood, the MV-1 LX brings significant strength with its 4.6 liter V8 Ford engine, a powertrain that has been the bedrock of performance and reliability across private and commercial vehicle platforms. MV-1 may also be ordered with a factory installed Compressed Natural Gas fuel option.
"This is a distinctive, well-appointed luxury car that we're exceptionally proud to bring to the market," said Rick Smith, President of Mobility Ventures. "The MV-1 fills a significant void in consumer, government and transportation fleet markets while providing unsurpassed accessibility, safety and comfort for its passengers."
Built at AM General's world-class Commercial Assembly Plant in Mishawaka, Ind., the MV-1 is universally designed, allowing people of all abilities equal access to a quality, safe and inclusive transportation option. The MV-1 meets all applicable safety standards in the U.S. and Canada for crash-worthiness test as required by both the U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS) without exceptions or exemptions.
The MV-1 is "best in class" for safety, more durable and cost-effective to own and operate than a traditional converted van or bus. Because the vehicle was purpose-built with the comfort and accessibility desired by customers with disabilities, it was also constructed with built-in key safety features that avoid the hazards inherent with after-market conversions.
To purchase the new MV-1 LX or any other MV-1 vehicle model, please contact an authorized MV-1 dealer in your area which can easily be found on our newly revamped website at www.mv-1.us. The new site also includes useful tabs on vehicle specifications, downloadable brochures and vehicle photos.
About Mobility Ventures, LLC
Mobility Ventures is an industry innovator in purpose-built paratransit vehicles for public and private transportation providing design, engineering, marketing, sales, and customer service support. Mobility Ventures is an AM General company. Please see more information about Mobility Ventures at www.mv-1.us.
About AM General
AM General designs, engineers, manufactures, supplies and supports specialized vehicles for military and commercial customers worldwide. AM General has more than five decades of experience meeting the changing needs of the defense and automotive industries, supported by its employees at major facilities in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, and a strong supplier base that stretches across 43 states. Please see more information about AM General at www.amgeneral.com.
By Greg Migliore