New MV-1 Manufacturer Joins NMEDA

The new owner of the wheelchair-accessible MV-1 is now officially a member of the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA).

AM General - manufacturer of the military Humvee - purchased the rights to produce the MV-1 after its former owner, Vehicle Production Group, halted production in the spring and laid off nearly all its staff.

Since then, AM General has created a wholly owned subsidiary named Mobility Ventures to take over MV-1 production.

The MV-1 has been touted in consumer and industry press as the only American automotive vehicle created to be wheelchair accessible from the very start.

"We are pleased to become a member in NMEDA, a national organization that reflects Mobility Ventures' commitment to improving the quality, safety and reliability of accessible transportation," said Rick Smith, Mobility Ventures' president, in a news statement. "We look forward to working with NMEDA as Mobility Ventures continues to grow its MV-1 dealership network across the United States. Our goal is for each MV-1 consumer dealer to be a NMEDA member and to become accredited in its industry-leading Quality Assurance Program."

The MV-1 will be built at AM General's assembly plant in Mishawaka, Ind.

Nmeda.com mv-1.us

About the Author

Laurie Watanabe is the editor of Mobility Management. She can be reached at lwatanabe@1105media.com.

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