SANTA ROSA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Electric vehicle market pioneer ZAP (OTCBB:ZAAP) announced today that it has completed its acquisition of 51 percent of the capital stock of Zhejiang Jonway Automobile Co. Ltd. of Sanmen, Zhejiang, China. Cathaya Capital LP has funded the aggregate amount of US$36 million.

The final payment of US$19 million related to the acquisition was made on January 21, 2011 with the funding from Cathaya Capital. Total cash payment for the acquisition of 51 percent of Jonway Automobile was US$30,030,000.

With ZAP’s electric vehicle (EV) technology expertise and international experience, the combined company intends to build the necessary production platform to address the Chinese EV market. The newly combined company, to be renamed ZAP Jonway, will leverage Jonway Auto’s A380 SUV, as well as its established distribution channels to the Chinese market with over 90 direct dealers. ZAP Jonway will manufacture and sell SUVs powered by ZAP’s electric drive train and expects to benefit from the 60,000 RMB (approximately US$9,000) government incentives granted to electric car buyers.

Jonway Automobile anticipates vehicle sales for its gasoline A380 SUV to increase by 40 percent to over 10,000 vehicles in 2011 compared to 2010. In 2009, its first year of sales, Jonway Automobile experienced sales of 4,000 SUVs, which rose to over 7,000 in 2010, each with a sales price of around US$11,000. ZAP Jonway is currently adding to its manufacturing production lines to deliver the A380 EV SUV by the anticipated date of June 2011 and ZAP’s ALIAS EV roadster by September 2011.

“Jonway Automobile’s revenues from selling its gasoline vehicles will help build the foundation for ZAP Jonway’s growth in the electric vehicle market, allowing ZAP to focus on further strengthening its EV technology, reinforced by Jonway’s manufacturing production expertise and ready market access to China,” said Dr. Priscilla Lu, founder and general partner of Cathaya Capital, a Cross Border Fund focused on China. Dr. Lu has served as Chairman of the Board for ZAP since September 2009. Cathaya Capital has invested US$36 million in ZAP since September 2009 with the goal of completing this 51 percent acquisition of Jonway Automobile.

Jonway Automobile is ISO 9000 certified with over 3.6 million square feet of fully provisioned factory space on 141 acres of land.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, continued acceptance of ZAP’s products, increased levels of competition, new products and technological changes, ZAP’s dependence upon third-party suppliers, intellectual property rights and other risks detailed from time to time in the ZAP’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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