The Vehicle Production Group in Mishawaka, Indiana received a $50 million loan from the Department of Energy to manufacture a wheelchair-accessible van at  AM General’s H2 plant. Over 130 workers are now building prototypes of the vehicle known as the MV-1, a six-passenger, wheelchair accessible vehicle that will run on compressed natural gas to produce lower emissions than normal cars and trucks.  When the plant hits full production sometime in 2011, it will provide as many as 200 jobs.

According to AM General spokeswoman Celeste Ross, AM General is eager to apply their talented work force and extensive vehicle manufacturing capabilities to the production of the MV-1. She said that AM General is truly proud to be associated with a vehicle that is environmentally friendly, clean-burning natural gas and provides for the transportation needs of people in wheelchairs.