In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Vehicle Production Group (VPG), manufacturer and distributor of the new MV-1, the first designed, engineered and factory-built wheelchair accessible car is launching a national road show; the MV-1 Wheels Across America Tour.
VPG says the tour will allow interested consumers to interact with the MV-1. The 27-city tour will make stops at rehabilitation centers, assisted living properties, hospitals, as well as retail outlets and lifestyle centers through September.
“This marks a major milestone for the 14 million American adults who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices that present a significant obstacle for routine activities such as traveling in a car,” says Vehicle Production Group CEO Dave Schembri.
The tour will roll into each city in a 53-foot, MV-1 branded semi-trailer featuring depictions of the MV-1. The trailer will transform into a mobile MV-1 exhibit, complete with interactive displays and virtual demonstrations, all at the proper height to allow wheelchair users access to the information, thereby qualifying the entire tour as ADA-compliant.
The production quality MV-1 vehicles — a black MV-1 with the standard Ford 4.6L V8 gasoline engine, and a white MV-1 that runs on clean-burning Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) — will be on hand for consumers to experience.
VPG says with its durable body-on-frame construction the MV-1 is built like a truck but rides like a car. The vehicle features a deployable access ramp with a 1,200-pound weight capacity, a spacious 36-inch entryway, and a roomy interior that seats up to six people comfortably. The vehicle is also available with a manufacturer engineered and assembled compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling system option.
VPG says it designed the vehicle with input from wheelchair users and caregivers and paratransit fleet owners, and then road tested it relentlessly, testing prototypes through accelerated durability driving on test tracks that duplicate the toughest roads in America.
The integrated ramp has been extensively tested for reliability and durability by continuously deploying it for months at a time. The MV-1 vehicles come with a five-year/75,000-mile powertrain warranty. For more, visit www.vpgautos.com.