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That white one has got to be an australian model. Australia never gave up on the el camino concept.
ZAP's alternate modes of transport are popular with electric utilities and police departments who desire inexpensive and non-exhausting modes of transportation for their meter readers and officers. Its products are sold through company-owned and franchised stores, mail order, its Web site, and independent bike shops. ZAP operates an electric vehicle rental location at a center in Mendocino, California . It is considering opening rental outlets in other tourist locations. ZAP obtained exclusive rights from California-based Smart-Automobile LLC in 2004 to develop Smart cars in the US. However, the company stopped selling these cars in 2006 (it sold more than 300) after the deal fell through. ZAP then acquired 20% of Obvio!, a flex-fuel vehicle manufacturer in Brazilian. It is working with Lotus Engineering to develop a crossover SUV electric car called ZAP-X. The company also sells electric cars and trucks under the Xebra brand. McGreen, an inventor who specializes in lightweight motorized vehicles, and Gary Starr, co-founder of electric vehicle retrofitter U.S. Electricar, founded ZAP (Zero Air Pollution) Power Systems in 1994. The two were in part encouraged by the growing attention and legislation concerning fossil fuel emissions. California requires 10% of all vehicles sold by 2003 be zero emission vehicles; some states and countries have similar legislation. In 1996 ZAP contracted Power Biking to sell its bikes through auto dealerships and began selling products through catalogs. The company's business continued to pick up speed in 1997, when ZAP and Italian electric-scooter maker Movity formed ZAP Europa to cross-distribute products. The company also signed manufacturing and distribution agreements that year with Dantroh Japan, XtraMOBIL of Switzerland, and Forever Bicycle Co. (Shanghai). ZAP began selling its stock directly to the public via the Internet in 1997 and opened an outlet store in San Francisco. A year later it introduced the ZAPPY scooter, which put a zip into sales. (The company, however, has continued to report losses.) The company changed its name to ZAPWORLD.COM and added a store in Key West, Florida, in 1999. It also bought electric vehicle maker emPower. The company bought Electric Vehicle Systems, which makes a two-wheel vehicle designed to tow skaters and skateboarders, in 2000. It added Aquatic Propulsion Technology and its sea scooter technology that year. In 2001 the company began marketing an electric motor that can be mounted on manual wheelchairs and shortened its name to ZAP to solidify its brand name. ZAP filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March 2002 and emerged in late June. Part of the company's reorganization plan included merging with automotive distribution companies Voltage Vehicles and The RAP Group. The company's 2003 purchase of a fleet of rental electric cars, including two locations on the main strip in Las Vegas, provides highly visible locations for ZAP to present new products to consumers. In early 2004 the company purchased Santa Barbara-based The Electric Transportation Company (ETC), maker of drivetrains for electric propulsion vehicles. In March 2004 ZAP purchased the assets, including electric vehicles and intellectual property, of Electric Transportation Company. The next month ZAP acquired the exclusive distribution, marketing, and technology rights from Smart-Automobile LLC to make its Smart cars US compliant. The deal fell through in 2006.
Products: Total sales and income for fiscal year ended December 2005 : $ 3.6 mil / $-23.5 mil
ZAP (ZAAP)
501 4th St. Santa Rosa CA 95401, Ph. 707-525-8658
Xebra Sedan
Xebra Xero
Zap! Obvio
ZAPTruck
Electric ATVs and bikes
Portable energy
Personal transporters
Total sales and income for fiscal year ended December 2006 : $10.8 mil / $-11.9 mil