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The MV-1, the First Automobile Designed from the Ground Up to be Wheelchair-Accessible, Unveiled in NYC

MTA field-testing more than two dozen MV-1’s for Access-A-Ride service; U.S.-built vehicle also approved for use as taxi by NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission

NEW YORK (JANUARY 10) – Today the Vehicle Production Group LLC (VPG) unveiled the MV-1 automobile, the first vehicle ever designed from the ground up to be a completely wheelchair-accessible vehicle. The MV-1, assembled at a plant in Indiana, features a fully-deployable side ramp, can accommodate up to six occupants – including wheelchairs and motorized scooters – and is the only vehicle that meets or exceeds guidelines set forth under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“For millions of disabled Americans, the only mobility alternative to the MV-1 is to buy a standard automobile and then pay thousands in retrofitting costs, compromising its design integrity,” said Fred Drasner, Chairman and CEO of the Vehicle Production Group.  “The MV-1 is truly revolutionary: a wheelchair-accessible car that is designed from the ground up to meet or exceed ADA guidelines.  And because the MV-1 doesn’t have to be structurally modified, its body-on-frame, rear-wheel drive construction makes it the safest, sturdiest, most durable vehicle of its kind on the road.  Tax credits, like those offered here in New York State, also make the MV-1 the most cost-effective wheelchair-accessible vehicle in the market.   Union-made in America by AM General, the makers of the legendary ‘Hummer,’ the MV-1 is available now in New York at our dealer, MV-1 of Greater NY.”

Joining executives from VPG were David Yassky, Commissioner for the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission; Jason Mischel, Acting Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of People with Disabilities; representatives from the Taxis For All Campaign; Ronnie Ellen Raymond, an advocate for the disability community; and Steven Schneir, General Manager of Manhattan Motorcars, the first VPG dealer for the New York City metro region.

“We’re gearing up to auction hundreds of new wheelchair-accessible medallion licenses, and are working on putting thousands of accessible hail liveries on the road,” said TLC Commissioner/Chair David Yassky, “and we want taxi and livery owners to have as many strong options as possible to determine which accessible vehicles work best in these roles.  Along those lines, the MV1 shows great promise.”

“The MV-1 can be New York City’s taxi of today, tomorrow and for decades to come,” said Edith Prentiss, chair of the Taxis For All Campaign, a coalition of the city’s leading disability rights and service organizations. “The ADA-compliant MV-1s the right taxi for our city and for the city we want to be.”

"The time for a taxi for all has arrived," said Assembly Member Micah Z. Kellner. "Whether you are on two feet or four wheels, the MV-1will insure no one is left at the curb."

More than two dozen MV-1’s are currently being field-tested by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) for the agency’s Access-A-Ride program; the vehicle was also recently approved for use as a taxi by the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC).

“I am fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to travel in an MV-1 – we rode on New York City streets, the West Side Highway, the New York Thruway, and roads upstate,” says Ronnie Ellen Raymond, an advocate for the disabled community. “The ride was the most comfortable that I have experienced in any vehicle, when I have been disabled or not. The MV-1 has more room and comfort features than any vehicle that I know: you could have four adults with luggage going to the airport; six-foot-five athletes, sitting straight up and with their legs extended; and even bicyclists with their bikes, all fitting comfortably inside the MV-1. I would say this vehicle is going to be more practical than what’s on the market now, for either the able-bodied or disabled.”

The MV-1 is manufactured in the United States at a former GM Hummer plant in Mishawaka, Indiana, featuring a sturdy, rigid, fully-boxed frame; a Ford 4.6-liter V8 engine; and a Ford electronic 4-speed transmission. The MV-1 is available with either compressed natural gas (CNG) or conventional gasoline fueling systems; has a deployable ramp (available in powered or manual versions); and can comfortably seat five occupants (six with an optional “jump seat”) - including wheelchairs and/or motorized scooters.

"We are proud and excited to be the factory-authorized dealer for the MV-1 in the five boroughs, Long Island, the lower Hudson Valley, and Connecticut,” said Steven A. Schneir, general manager of MV-1 of greater New York City.  “We’ve already delivered more than 150 MV-1s to clients in the region, and I am pleased to report that the response has been overwhelmingly positive, with at least one client telling us the vehicle has ‘changed our lives!’  Commercial fleets have also reported that their customers, both able-bodied and disabled, have commented on the smooth ride and roominess of the MV-1 – and are also pleased that the vehicle runs on domestically-produced, clean-burning compressed natural gas.”

About the Vehicle Production Group
Headquartered in South Florida, The Vehicle Production Group LLC (VPG) has a simple company mission: to help those with mobility issues find mobility solutions by developing vehicles that allow them to travel with comfort and dignity. The MV-1 was designed for just such a purpose – a versatile, unique and thoughtful vehicle that was built from the ground up specifically for the members of the disability community and those who help service them.