MV-1 Van Back In Production, Company Sees Promise In Fleet

A multi-purpose van that was intended to be used for a variety of duties, including transporting the disabled, is back in production.

The big MV-1 is now being produced by AM General, the company most widely known for producing the original HUMVEE for the military, as well as the Hummer H2 for General Motors. The MV-1 was developed by a start-up company, the Vehicle Production Group, or VPG, which halted production after running out of money two years ago.

"Definitely one of the markets we’re looking at," explains Spokesman Jeff Adams, "the livery and fleet markets. This is a perfect vehicle considering it’s universally accessible."

The specially designed vehicle was originally expected to target a variety of different clients, including both the limousine and taxicab fleets, as well as the market for specialized vehicles for the disabled. AM General plans to focus on the all those markets going forward.

The MV-1 uses a 4.6-liter Ford V-8 engine that can be converted to run on natural gas, lowering operating costs.

VPG delivered over 2,000 of the MV-1s before production was halted, and had an equal number of orders in hand. The vehicle was originally offered at a starting price of $39,950, but will now cost $45,000 with a gasoline-powered version of the Ford V-8. The CNG model will start at $55,000.