Michigan Specialty Van Maker Seeks a Buyer

Vehicle Production Group LLC, an Allen Park, Mich.-based maker of wheelchair-accessible vans, suspended operations six months ago, closed its office in February and is now looking for a buyer.

VPG says it built 2,500 of its MV-1 vans since 2006. Former CEO John Walsh tells Automotive News the company currently has three employees.

VPG's collapse has attracted Congressional interest because the company received a $50 million loan from the U.S. Dept. of Energy in 2011 under the same controversial program that loaned money to Fisker Automotive and Solyndra.

The Michigan company's previous CEOs included Mark Hogan, a former General Motors executive and president of Magna International; and David Schembri, who had previously held senior North American marketing positions with Mitsubishi, Mercedes-Benz and Penske Automotive Group.