Ford, BraunAbility Unveil First Wheelchair-Accessible SUV

CARS.COM — Conversion vans that allow people with disabilities to go where they need to go are not new, but Ford is rolling out what it says is the first volume-produced wheelchair-accessible SUV through a partnership with BraunAbility — a mobility conversion specialist.

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The BraunAbility MXV is available on Ford Explorers in the base, XLT and Limited trims. The MXV features a sliding door, removable driver and passenger seats and a powered, lighted ramp. There’s also a sliding gearshift and a front-seat base designed to make more room for wheelchairs. Both the door and ramp can be operated by the key fob.

The overall goals of the conversion are to create more interior space to make it easier to maneuver a wheelchair inside the Explorer and to allow people to drive the SUV from their wheelchair or ride as a passenger.

The BraunAbility MXV will be sold at more than 200 dealers in the U.S.