MV partners with VPG, taps new sales unit president

MV Transportation Inc. entered into an agreement with The Vehicle Production Group LLC (VPG) of Miami to become the exclusive distributor of their products to the public paratransit market in the U.S.

Under the terms of the agreement, MVSL will sell and lease VPG’s purpose-built accessible vehicle, the "MV-1," to organizations receiving public transportation funding from governmental entities in the U.S. VPG’s production of the "MV-1" paratransit vehicle will offer an innovative and functional alternative for public paratransit systems.

Incorporating the principles of universal design – the idea that products should be equally accessible for all people regardless of mobility, age or situational impairment – the MV-1 is designed and built, direct from the manufacturer, to meet or exceed ADA guidelines and satisfy the demanding needs of paratransit fleets. The vehicle is safe, durable and comfortable for all passengers, whether they’re in a wheelchair or not, and purpose-built for paratransit without the need for any retrofitting.

The MV-1 is designed specifically to transport ambulatory and mobility impaired passengers. The vehicle has room for up to two wheelchairs, and will offer an OEM engineered and factory installed dedicated compressed natural gas (CNG) powertrain option. The MV-1 exceeds the domestic content required under the Buy America Act and will be available for purchase in 2010.

Meanwhile, MV is pleased to announce Gary Willms has been named president of MV Sales and Leasing Inc. (MVSL), its bus sales subsidiary.

Willms is joining MVSL with extensive experience in bus sales. Willms has more than 25 years in bus manufacturing. He joins MVSL from ISE Corp., where he served as vice president of business development. He previously was Neoplan USA’s vice president of sales and marketing, and in January 2005 took over the responsibilities as vice president of program management. He has been a purchasing director for the Gillig Corp., as well as the company’s manager of transportation marketing until joining Neoplan in September 2004.