Wheelchair-Accessible Van Manufacturer, VPG, Relocates Headquarters From Florida to Michigan
10/03/2012
"All of our suppliers are here. All of our technical people are here. Michigan is just the right place for us to be," said John Walsh, VPG CEO. Referring to the firm as America's fourth automaker, Walsh said; "We are proud to establish ourselves as an All-American car company with the MV-1. We designed and engineered the MV-1 in Metro Detroit and we plan to stay here and support the local economy, and commit to the state of Michigan as well."
While the firm's engineering and purchasing operations are already located in Allen Park, at 333 Republic drive, executive staff will now bring the VPG's headquarters to Michigan. The company will maintain a marketing office in Ft. Lauderdale.
Production of the MV-1 began last fall under a contract with AM General in Mishawaka, Ind. It is the first van vehicle compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines. As an incentive, the U.S. Department of Energy awarded the firm a $50 million loan to help fund development of the CNG version of the MV-1.
MV-1 prices range from about $39,000 to a little more than $50,000 for the model that runs on compressed natural gas. Since production on the MV-1 began about a year ago, VPG has built about 2,500 and sold about 1,700, Walsh said.
Project Announcements
Southeastern Timber Products Expands Ackerman, Mississippi Sawmill, Operations
02/07/2025
HII Plans Berkeley County, South Carolina, Operations
02/05/2025
South Korea-Based SPC Group Plans Burleson, Texas, Production Operations
02/05/2025
Diageo North America Plans Montgomery, Alabama, Manufacturing-Warehouse Operations
02/05/2025
Octillion Power Systems Establishes Reno, Nevada, Battery Manufacturing Operations
02/05/2025
Letica Expands Fulton County, Kentucky, Operations
02/05/2025
Most Read
-
2024's Leading Metro Locations: U.S. Cities on the Rise Amid an Economic Reshuffling
Q4 2024
-
The Workforce Factor: How States Are Competing to Build Tomorrow's Talent
Q4 2024
-
Best Practices in Incentives Procurement
Q4 2024
-
NEW NIMBYism: A Threat to The U.S. Economy
Q4 2024
-
Five Strategies to Tackle the Data Center Talent Shortage
Q4 2024
-
Microsoft-Three Mile Island Deal Could Signal Path for Nuclear Power to Strengthen Partnerships with Big Tech
Q4 2024
-
Industries Look for Employees in Nontraditional Spaces Amid Labor Shortage
Q4 2024