ZAP Alias(TM) to Carry Revived Detroit Electric Brand
JINHUA, China and SANTA ROSA, Calif., Feb. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
In a joint announcement, US electric car pioneer ZAP (OTC Bulletin Board:
ZAAP) and China Youngman Automotive Group announced today they are reviving
the 100- year-old electric car brand Detroit Electric for their automotive
joint venture. Detroit Electric officials look forward to bringing new
vehicle technologies to market by 2009, and beyond that the possibility of
bringing new manufacturing and green collar jobs to California.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080207/AQTH095-a )
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(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070130/SFTU060LOGO ) Detroit Electric plans to introduce its first electric cars and buses
in 2009. The ZAP Alias, which is under development for the joint venture,
will be one of several vehicles being planned to carry the Detroit Electric
brand. ZAP is planning a presentation on Detroit Electric for North
American auto dealers at NADA 2008, the world's largest auto show for
dealers. Learn more about the National Automobile Dealers Association
(NADA) annual meeting and exhibition, February 9-12, 2008 in San Francisco
at http://expo.nada.org.
Detroit Electric was an early 20th Century electric car, perhaps the
most popular in history. The Anderson Electric Car Company started building
the cars under the Detroit Electric brand over 100 years ago. Anderson of
Detroit, Michigan is the longest running electric car company in history,
operating between 1907 and 1939. In its heyday, Detroit Electric was an
American icon and the cars were very popular with customers like Thomas
Edison, Charles Proteus Steinmetz, Henry Ford's Wife Clara, and John D.
Rockefeller, Jr. Detroit Electric plans to build a special edition electric
vehicle based on the original Detroit Electric as a tribute for the new
name of the joint venture.
While joint venture officials are reviving the Detroit Electric brand,
the first offices and facilities are planned, not for Detroit, but
California. Management will be opening offices in California and evaluating
manufacturing opportunities for economic development within the state.
"We see California as a launch pad. It is one of the most ready markets
to adopt these new green vehicle solutions," said Detroit Electric Chairman
Albert Lam. "The governor and his leadership here have created a fertile
environment for us to create and grow. Many are talking about the future of
the auto industry and Detroit Electric is a name that will speak to
generations about the past and the future of automobiles."
A British national, Mr. Lam left his position as CEO of Lotus
Engineering in October 2007 to pursue the new business opportunity with
Detroit Electric. He was responsible for bringing Youngman, ZAP and Lotus
Engineering together. Since 2003, Mr. Lam served as the CEO for Lotus
Engineering as well as Executive Director for Lotus Group International
(2003-2006). Mr. Lam has 20 years of relevant industrial experience serving
companies like Jaguar, Land Rover, Ford and others. His experience spans
across Automotive, Consultancy and IT of which 13 years was spent at senior
management/leadership positions, including Managing Director for Apple
Computer Asia and Sun Professional Services. Mr. Lam has experience with
startup companies and a track record in growing and expanding businesses.
He attended Coventry University in the UK where he earned a Masters of
Science degree in robotics and manufacturing, and registered for a PhD
program in Complex Knowledge Systems.
"Detroit Electric has already completed a five year business plan and
mapped out the ten year product plan," said Mr. Lam. "It is our intention
to introduce affordable and practical everyday electric vehicles, working
with our technology partners to deliver some of the leading edge technology
in motor drive, battery and hydrogen fuel cells. Our plan is to launch with
a 12-meter pure electric transit bus, the ZAP Alias, and two family sedans
as early as the summer of 2009. This is no longer a wish list but an
eventuality; it is a matter of willingness to change."
Detroit Electric plans to build an array of cars, trucks and buses with
the latest automotive technologies. The vehicles will be manufactured under
the supervision of Youngman Automotive, one of China's newest automotive
manufacturers and a leading manufacturer of buses and trucks. Youngman is a
government-sanctioned, private holding company with 12 manufacturing
subsidiaries. Youngman is expanding it manufacturing in China, which covers
an area over four million square feet. Youngman employs 4,000 workers,
including 700 in-house research and development staff. With seven new
production facilities in process, Youngman expects to soon have the
capacity to produce 200,000 vehicles per year, including more than 10,000
buses annually.
"We are proud to have a chance to re-build this great car name after
100 years," said Youngman Chairman Mr. Pang Qingnian.
ZAP will manage the sales, marketing and distribution of the joint
venture products. ZAP is selling a full-line of electric vehicles through a
growing number of dealerships in the United States. ZAP is also organizing
international distribution for its current and future vehicles.
"Attitudes are changing around the world and in California I believe
there is a growing awareness that environmental health and economic
prosperity go hand-in-hand," said ZAP CEO Steve Schneider. "Green-collar
jobs and innovative fuel efficient vehicles will be a win-win for
California's environment and economy."
For more information about Detroit Electric, visit its website at
http://www.detroit-electric.com.
About Youngman Automotive
Youngman recently introduced advanced manufacturing technology to its
facilities in a joint venture with Neoplan of Germany. Youngman's
manufacturing is based on the ISO9001 international standard of quality for
its bus production. The manufacturing facility in China covers an area over
four million square feet. Youngman employs 4000 workers, including 700 R&D
staff. With seven production facilities in process, Youngman expects to
soon have the capacity to produce 200,000 vehicles per year, including a
capacity to build 10,000 buses annually. For more information about
Youngman Automotive Group, visit http://www.youngman-bus.com.
About ZAP
ZAP has been a leader in advanced transportation technologies since
1994, delivering over 100,000 vehicles to consumers in more than 75
countries. At the forefront of fuel-efficient transportation with new
technologies including energy efficient gas systems, hydrogen, electric,
fuel cell, ethanol, hybrid and other innovative power systems, ZAP has a
joint venture to manufacture electric and hybrid vehicles with Youngman
Automotive Group, one of China's leading manufacturers of buses and trucks.
ZAP is developing a high- performance crossover SUV electric car concept
called ZAP-X engineered by Lotus Engineering. ZAP is also developing a new
generation of vehicles using advanced nanotech batteries with Advanced
Battery Technologies. The Company recently announced a strategic
partnership with Dubai-based Al Yousuf Group to expand its international
vehicle distribution. ZAP also makes an innovative, new portable energy
technology that manages power for mobile electronics from cell phones to
laptops. For product, dealer and investor information, visit
http://www.zapworld.com.
Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the
"safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve
risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, continued
acceptance of the Company's products, increased levels of competition for
the Company, new products and technological changes, the Company's
dependence upon third-party suppliers, intellectual property rights, and
other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's periodic reports
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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