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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
                                                      
Form 10-Q
                                                      
(Mark One)
 
x
QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION  13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
 
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2014
 
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
 
For the transition period from ________ to _________
 
Commission File Number    001-32534
 
ZAP
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
   
California
94-3210624
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
   
501 4th Street
Santa Rosa, California
95401
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code))
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (707) 525-8658
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
 
Yes  x   No  o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data Filer required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files.
 
Yes  x   No  o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a small reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
 Large accelerated filer  o
Accelerated filer  o
Non-accelerated filer  o
Smaller reporting company  x
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
 
Yes  o   No  x
 
As of November 12, 2014, there were  427,477,489 shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock.
 


 
1

 

 
INDEX
   
Page
No.
     
PART I. Financial Information
 
     
Item 1.
 Financial Statements (Unaudited)
 
     
 
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013
3
     
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the
three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013
5
     
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013
6
     
 
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
8
     
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
26
     
       Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
31
     
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
31
   
PART II. Other Information
 
     
Item 1.
Legal Proceedings
32
     
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
34
     
Item 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
34
     
Item 3.
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
34
     
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures
34
     
Item 5.
Other Information
34
     
Item 6.
Exhibits
34
     
SIGNATURES
 
35

 
2

 
 
ZAP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)
 
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
ASSETS
 
2014
   
2013
 
             
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 818     $ 2,629  
Restricted Cash
    12,997       10,758  
Notes receivable
    244       185  
Accounts receivable
    4,607       5,351  
Inventories, net
    9,872       8,034  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    587       1,007  
Total current assets
    29,125       27,964  
                 
Property, plant and equipment, net
    44,105       48,004  
Land use rights, net
    9,757       10,008  
Other assets:
               
Distribution fees, net
    14,729       9,839  
 Intangible assets, net
    3,926       4,280  
Goodwill
    332       334  
Due from related party
    3,973       6,061  
Deposits and other assets
    569       543  
Total other assets
    23,529       21,057  
Total assets
  $ 106,516     $ 107,033  
 
See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
 
 
3

 
 
ZAP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)

 
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
             
LIABILITIES AND  EQUITY
           
Current liabilities:
           
Short term loans
  $ 16,092     $ 14,961  
Convertible Bond
    1,100       1,153  
Senior convertible debt
    20,679       20,679  
Accounts payable
    20,899       23,648  
Accrued liabilities
    7,016       7,874  
Notes payable
    16,155       15,695  
Advances from customers
    7,231       5,233  
Taxes payable
    775       1,704  
Due to related party
    7,081       2,409  
Other payables
    3,037       3,574  
Total current liabilities
    100,065       96,930  
                 
Long term liabilities:
               
Accrued liabilities and others
    781       752  
Total liabilities
    100,846       97,682  
                 
Commitments and contingencies
               
                 
Equity
               
Common stock, no par value; 800 million shares authorized;
         
427,477,489 and 302,518,002 shares issued and outstanding
         
 at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively
    241,250       231,125  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    1,645       1,707  
Accumulated deficit
    (241,976 )     (232,417 )
Total ZAP shareholders’ equity
    919       415  
Non-controlling interest
    4,751       8,936  
Total equity
    5,670       9,351  
Total liabilities and equity
  $ 106,516     $ 107,033  

See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

 
4

 


ZAP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
 (In thousands; except per share data)
(Unaudited)

 
 
For the Three Months ended
Sept 30,
   
For the Nine Months ended
Sept 30,
 
    2014    
2013
   
2014
   
2013
 
                         
Net sales
  $ 5,220     $ 9,929     $ 19,630     $ 36,562  
Cost of goods sold
    (5,840 )     (9,316 )     (21,200 )     (36,254 )
Gross profit
    (620 )     613       (1,570 )     308  
                                 
Operating expenses:
                               
Sales and marketing
    1,703       1,224       3,183       4,744  
General and administrative
    1,448       1,849       5,888       6,368  
Research and development
    119       120       380       429  
Total operating expenses
    3,270       3,193       9,451       11,541  
                                 
Loss from operations
    (3,890 )     (2,580 )     (11,021 )     (11,233 )
                                 
Other income (expense):
                               
Interest expense, net
    (1,124 )     (955 )     (2,998 )     (2,580 )
Loss from equity in  joint venture
    -       (82 )     -       (656 )
Other Income
    212       263       635       791  
Total income (expense)
    (912 )     (774 )     (2,363 )     (2,445 )
Loss before income taxes
    (4,802 )     (3,354 )     (13,384 )     (13,678 )
Income tax benefit(expense)
    (1 )     8       (302 )     33  
Net Loss
  $ (4,803 )   $ (3,346 )   $ (13,686 )   $ (13,645 )
Less: loss attributable to non-controlling interest
    1,390       843       4,127       4,097  
Net loss attributable to ZAP’s common shareholders
  $ (3,413 )   $ (2,503 )   $ (9,559 )   $ (9,548 )
                                 
Net Loss
    (4,803 )     (3,346 )     (13,686 )     (13,645 )
Other Comprehensive income / (Loss)
                               
Foreign currency translation adjustments
    (3 )     193       (119 )     853  
Total comprehensive income (loss)
    (4,806 )     (3,153 )     (13,805 )     (12,792 )
Less : Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling
interest
    1,392       748       4,185       3,679  
Comprehensive loss attributable to ZAP
  $ (3,414 )   $ (2,405 )   $ (9,620 )   $ (9,113 )
                                 
Net loss per share
                               
Basic and diluted
  $ (0.01 )   $ (0.01 )   $ (0.03 )   $ (0.03 )
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
                         
Basic and diluted
    412,700       302,518       360,632       302,518  
 
See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
 
 
5

 
 
ZAP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
   
For the Nine Months ended Sept 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
           
Loss from operations of the company and its consolidated subsidiaries
  $ (13,686 )   $ (13,645 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash (used in) operating activities:
               
Stock-based employee compensation
    169       462  
Depreciation and amortization
    5,196       4,970  
Amortization of Distribution agreement
    1,080       1,080  
Provision for (recovery of )doubtful accounts
    (15 )     10  
Inventory Reserve
    (453 )     148  
Loss from joint venture and other investments
    -       643  
(Gain)Loss on disposal of equipment
    (18 )     34  
Deferred tax benefit(expense)
    301       (40 )
Amortization of debt discount
    513       1,063  
Changes in assets and liabilities
               
Accounts receivable
    1,157       (348 )
Notes Receivable
    (61 )     1,611  
Inventories
    (1,879 )     2,707  
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    (1 )     (505 )
Due from related parties
    2,134       (547 )
Accounts payable
    (2,597 )     (3,910 )
Accrued liabilities
    (480 )     (187 )
Taxes Payable
    (917 )     154  
Advances from customers
    2,036       (1,192 )
Due to related parties
    5,761       2,272  
Other payables
    (388 )     (751 )
Net cash used in operating activities
    (2,148 )     (5,971 )
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
               
                 
Acquisition of property and equipment
    (1,077 )     (1,581 )
Proceeds from sale of equipment
    40       -  
Net cash flows used in investing activities:
    (1,037 )     (1,581 )

 
6

 
 
ZAP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
   
For the Nine Months ended Sept 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
             
             
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
           
Change in restricted cash
    (2,315 )     (1,603 )
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
    1,900       -  
Proceeds from notes payable
    22,801       33,017  
Proceeds from short term borrowings
    8,640       11,858  
Proceeds from convertible Bond
    -       1,496  
Repayments of notes payable
    (22,232 )     (33,303 )
Payments on short term debt
    (7,404 )     (4,889 )
Net cash provided by financing activities
    1,390       6,576  
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    (16 )     (110 )
NET (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
    (1,811 )     (1,086 )
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period
    2,629       1,656  
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period
  $ 818     $ 570  
                 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
               
Cash paid during period for interest
  $ 1,152     $ 1,250  
Cash paid during period for taxes
    2       7  
                 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
               
Issue 61 million shares of common stock for acquisition of IPR and Distribution
               
rights for Minivan and CNG products
  $ 5,969     $ -  
Issue 6,439,552 shares of common stock to pay interest payable
  $ 639     $ -  
Issue 7,970,983 shares of common stock to redeem Convertible  bond
  $ 600     $ -  
Issue 17,819,783 shares of common stock to pay oustanding balance
               
due to related parties
  $ 968     $ -  
 
See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
 
 
7

 
 
ZAP AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
September 30, 2014

 
 
NOTE 1 - ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION:
 
ZAP (together with its subsidiaries, the “Company” or “ZAP”) was incorporated in California in September, 1994. ZAP markets electric, alternative energy, and fuel efficient automobiles and commercial vehicles, motorcycles and scooters, and other forms of personal transportation. The Company’s business strategy is to develop, acquire, and commercialize electric vehicles and electric vehicle power systems which the Company believes have fundamental practical and environmental advantages over available internal combustion modes of transportation and that can be produced commercially on an economically competitive basis.
 
In pursuit of a manufacturing plant and a partner with an existing product line, a distribution and customer support network in China, and experience in vehicle manufacturing, ZAP acquired a majority of the outstanding equity in Zhejiang Jonway Automobile Co., Ltd. (“Jonway Auto” or “Jonway”). The Company believes its 51% acquisition of Jonway will enable it to access the rapidly-growing Chinese market for electric vehicles (“EV”) and to expand its EV business and distribution network around the world. The Company also believes Jonway’s ISO 9001 certified manufacturing facility provides the competitive production capacity and resources to support production of ZAP’s new  line of electric SUV, minivan, and Neighborhood EV (“NEV”).
 
Jonway is a limited liability company incorporated in Sanmen County, Zhejiang Province of the People’s Republic of China (“the PRC”) on April 28, 2004 by Jonway Group Co., Ltd. (“Jonway Group”). Jonway Group is under the control of three individuals, Wang Huaiyi, Alex Wang (the son of Wang Huaiyi) and Wang Xiao Ying (the daughter of Wang Huaiyi and all three individuals collectively referred to as the “Wang Family”).
 
The principal activities of Jonway until recently were the production and sales of gasoline models of the SUVs and minivans in China using the consigned UFO license from an affiliate of Jonway Group.  Over the past three years, Jonway continued the production and sales of its gasoline model SUV and minivan, while developing and ramping production of its EV product line. Jonway received type approval of its EV SUV and EV certification of its manufacturing facility from the Chinese government more than a year ago.  It also developed two different full electric EV models for its minivan, one with lithium batteries, which has longer range and more power, and the other with lead acid batteries, intended for lower speed and shorter range.  Jonway began production on a new NEV in April, 2014 focusing on the growing aging and young adult population in China that generally do not hold a driver’s license
 
Jonway Auto, as an authorized auto manufacturer in China, has access to the required licenses for China type approval for both the SUV and minivan models, providing these models with the advantage that lithium battery versions would be eligible for subsidies from the Chinese central and local governments ranging from RMB 35,000 (~US$5,000) to RMB 100,000  (~US$16,000) depending upon the range of the vehicle achieved between recharges. EVs reaching 250km in range per charge could receive up to ~$10,000 subsidies from the central government and another ~$10,000 from the local government.  Currently 88 local government cities are participating in this subsidy as required by the central government.  The Chinese government recently announced these subsidies have been extended to the year 2020, with the total amount of subsidies gradually tapering off each year.  Additionally, the Chinese government recently mandated that government vehicles must be Chinese-made and that a minimum of 30% of the vehicles purchased are required to be full electric.  ZAP believes these incentives, combined with the elimination of sales tax, consumer tax, and license plate registration fees on full electric vehicles (which can total more than US$20,000 for gas vehicles in some cities like Shanghai), are creating a strong economic incentive for the purchase of electric vehicles and a substantial market opportunity for Jonway’s new EV SUV and EV minivan product line. Jonway Auto’s EV SUV and EV minivan have been reconfigured with smaller engines to support lower power consumption. The EV SUV has a 20kwatt (40kwatt peak) engine. The EV minivan which is a much lighter vehicle has a 13.5kwatt engine. These newly reconfigured EVs adapted to maximize range at optimal speeds will be available for mass production in 1Q2015.
 
 
8

 
 
ZAP and Jonway Auto are focused on the EV fleet markets in China.  With the recent reinforced subsidies and requirements for government entities to purchase full electric vehicles, the Company believes Jonway’s new EV SUV is particularly suited for use by government officials and personnel.  Jonway’s SUV currently has an advantage in China because most auto companies to date have focused primarily on producing small electric sedans, some with only two seats, that are not very practicable for use by government officials on a daily basis.  Whereas, Jonway’s  SUV is a larger 5-person vehicle with comfortable  seating and legroom.  Jonway’s EV minivan is well-positioned for government city utility and maintenance transportation and service.  The minivan was designed with removable rear seats so that it may also serve as a delivery van for use in the projected rapid growth market of EVs used for the transport of goods and packages in China.
 
Jonway Auto began transforming its manufacturing plant to support mass production of several full electric vehicle models in 2014.  With the urgent priority to provide multiple manufacturing EV production lines to support multiple models of EVs, Jonway reduced its resource investment in the traditional gasoline vehicle products and cut back on funding the sales and marketing of its gasoline SUV and gasoline minivans.   Jonway is now in the process of migrating its organization to support the ramp up of electric vehicle production and preparing for sales and marketing to fleet markets, including to leasing companies and government organizations in the major cities.  2014 has been a major transitioning year for Jonway Auto, where there has been an intentional slowdown in gasoline vehicle production and sales, while Jonway is redirecting its manufacturing and sales and marketing groups to support the mass rollout of  its EVs, starting with its new Neighborhood EV model, Urbee, for city commuters. Many of the traditional gasoline vehicle dealerships that are not focused on supporting EV products will be dropped. This transition from gasoline to electric vehicles has affected the revenue and profitability of the Company.  As the sales of gasoline vehicles decreases, overhead costs are being absorbed by a smaller volume of sales, reducing gross margins.  We anticipate improvement in the gross margins as the sales volume of new EV products increases.
 
Another factor affecting the overall reduction in sales by many of the dealers is the shrinking bank credit lines available to smaller dealerships and business. As a result of the Chinese government’s requirement for banks to retain a larger cash reserve, credit facilities for smaller dealerships have been reduced, thus contracting the overall availability of credit for purchasing.  However, Chinese banks are being encouraged by the Chinese government to support credit facilities to promote EV sales, including EV leasing and EV fleet markets.
 
The combined companies’ new EV product lines include the A380 SUV EV and the minivan EV, the recently announced Urbee, and Sparkee. Both the EV SUV and EV minivan products leverage the production moldings, the manufacturing engineering infrastructure and facilities currently in place for the gasoline models of these vehicles.  The new Urbee started its first production delivery in the 2nd quarter of 2014.  The first production deliveries of the EV SUV and Minivans are projected to occur in the 1st and 2nd quarters of 2015, respectively.
 
 
9

 
 
The Company’s 3Q2014 revenues were lower when compared year over year as Jonway cut back on its gasoline vehicle sales and marketing activities in order to redirect the organization and resources to focus on developing the EV dealership networks and selling the Urbee, Jonway has received orders over twenty thousand projected sales orders, with monthly quantities ordered for the different dealerships.  Some of the orders for these Urbees will depend on availability of working capital, and Jonway Auto is delivering the Urbees based on the amount of advanced payments from the dealerships and partners.  Urbee is a low speed vehicle which is currently not a nationally recognized category in China except for a few provinces. The rate of orders placed from the pipeline will in part depend on the rate at which Jonway Auto is able to manufacture and deliver the vehicles.  Given that the EV market is just now being developed in China, Jonway Auto is partnering with a few strong dealers in order to work closely on the product service support and customer service.
 
The goal of the Company is to become cash flow positive in the second half of 2015 by producing and selling vehicles at a target  rate of a couple thousand Urbees per month on average and at least a few hundred SUVs or minivans per month, combining the delivery of both EVs and gasoline versions of the models. The Company’s strategy for achieving this goal is to leverage the volume sales orders and the continuing demand from the market for Urbees to drive down the cost of production in the factory for EVs and to substantially absorb the overhead of the factory.  The Company believes  mass production ramp up of the Urbees will help streamline the EV manufacturing process, provide a good training ground for the production engineers, and pave the way for volume production of the more sophisticated EV products of minivan and EV SUVs.
 
Jonway Auto will cut back on the number of gasoline SUV models in order to reduce the overhead costs of carrying too many different gasoline versions.  Jonway will focus on its high volume lower cost gasoline model priced at around US$10,000, replacing its 1.6 liters gasoline model with a more cost effective and efficient 1.5 liter engine model.  This will be Jonway’s mainstream gasoline model.
 
In the meantime, Jonway auto established its three wholly-owned subsidiaries, namely, Taizhou Selling Co., Ltd., focusing on vehicles marketing and distribution, Taizhou Fuxing Vehicle Sale Co., Ltd., focusing on minivan marketing and distribution in China, and Taizhou Vehicle Leasing Co., Ltd., focusing on the vehicle leasing business in Taizhou.
 
BASIS OF PRESENTATION
 
 The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of ZAP, and its subsidiaries: Jonway Automobile, Voltage Vehicles, ZAP Stores and ZAP Hong Kong for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 and are prepared in accordance with United States (“U.S.”) generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).  Management considers “subsidiaries” to be companies that are over 50% owned or controlled by ZAP,.  Intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation; profits from intercompany sales, are also eliminated; non –controlling interests are included in equity.
 
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (all of which are of a normal recurring nature) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 may not be indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2014 or for any other future period.  These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on April 15, 2014 (our “10-K”).
 
 
10

 
 
LIQUIDITY
 
In assessing our liquidity, we monitor and analyze our cash on-hand and our operating and capital expenditure commitments.  Our principal liquidity needs are to meet our working capital requirements, operating expenses and capital expenditure obligations. Our principal sources of liquidity consist of our existing cash on hand and bank facilities from China-based banks for Jonway Auto.
 
                As of September 30, 2014, we had $16.1 million in short term bank loans outstanding on the approved credit line of $41.3 million with credit exposure totaling $19.6 million with four China-based banks. The loans are secured by land and buildings owned by Jonway and guaranteed by related party Jonway Group and shareholder Wang Huaiyi.  The interest rates on the loans range from 5.04% to 8.93% per annum and the loans expire at various times through September, 2015.
 
Jonway intends to raise funds to support working capital needs for EV production.  If additional funding is available above the amount required for working capital, Jonway may use the additional funds for the testing and homologation of new models and potentially for new EV product molds. Depending upon the amount of available capital, funds may also be used to support the Company’s expansion plans, with emphasis on  electric vehicle sales and marketing, and new product roll outs. Also our principal shareholder, Jonway Group, has agreed to provide the necessary support to meet our financial obligations through November 14, 2015 in the event that we require additional liquidity. In addition, CEVC (China Electric Vehicle Corporation) would likely renew the convertible note which has been extended to August 2015. In the event that CEVC decides to call on the repayment, the repayment would likely be paid in full or in part in Jonway Auto shares or ZAP shares unless there is a breach by the Company on the covenant of the convertible note.
 
We intend to fund our long term liquidity needs related to operations through additional indebtedness, equity financing or a combination of both.  Although we believe that these sources will provide sufficient liquidity for us to meet our future liquidity and capital obligations, our ability to fund these needs will depend on our future performance, which will be subject in part to general economic, financial, regulatory and other factors beyond our control, including trends in our industry and technological developments.  
 
On September 16, 2014 the Company entered into a Placement Agency Agreement  for the purpose of identifying qualified prospective purchasers of  the Company’s debt and/or equity securities through the private placement of such securities.
 
NOTE 2- SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND USE OF ESTIMATES
 
Use of Estimates
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. The more significant estimates relate to revenue recognition, contractual allowances and uncollectible accounts, intangible assets, accrued liabilities, warranty costs, stock based compensation, income taxes, litigation and contingencies. Estimates are based on historical experience and on various other assumptions that the Company believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for judgments about results and the carrying values of assets and liabilities. Actual results and values may differ significantly from these estimates.
 
Revenue Recognition
 
The Company records revenues for non-Jonway sales when all of the following criteria have been met:
 
 
-
Persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists. The Company generally relies upon sales contracts or agreements, and customer purchase orders to determine the existence of an arrangement.
 
 
11

 
 
 
-
Sales price is fixed or determinable. The Company assesses whether the sales price is fixed or determinable based on the payment terms and whether the sales price is subject to refund or adjustment. 

 
-
Delivery has occurred. The Company uses shipping terms and related documents, or written evidence of customer acceptance, when applicable, to verify delivery or performance. The Company’s customary shipping terms are FOB shipping point.

 
-
Collectability is reasonably assured.  The Company assesses collectability based on creditworthiness of customers as determined by our credit checks and their payment histories. The Company records accounts receivable net of allowance for doubtful accounts and estimated customer returns.

 
The Company records revenues for Jonway sales only upon the occurrence of all of the following conditions:
 
 
-
The Company has received a binding purchase order from the customer or distributor authorized by a representative empowered to commit the purchaser (evidence of a sale);
 
-
 
-
The purchase price has been fixed, based on the terms of the purchase order;

 
-
The Company has delivered the product from its factory to a common carrier acceptable to the customer; and

 
-
The Company deems the collection of the amount invoiced probable.

The Company provides no price protection. Sales are recognized net of sale discounts, rebates and return allowances.
 
 Foreign Currency Translation
 
The Company and its wholly owned subsidiary/investments, maintain their accounting records in United States Dollars (“US$”) whereas Jonway Auto maintains its accounting records in the currency of Renminbi (“RMB”), being the primary currency of the economic environment in which their operations are conducted.
 
Jonway Auto’s principal country of operations is the PRC.  The financial position and results of our operations are determined using RMB, the local currency, as the functional currency.  The results of operations and the statement of cash flows denominated in foreign currency are translated at the average rate of exchange during the reporting period.  Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the balance sheet date are translated at the applicable rates of exchange in effect at that date.  The equity denominated in the functional currency is translated at the historical rate of exchange at the time of capital contribution.  Due to the fact that cash flows are translated based on the average translation rate, amounts related to assets and liabilities reported on the statement of cash flows will not necessarily agree with changes in the corresponding balances on the balance sheet.  Translation adjustments arising from the use of different exchange rates from period to period are included as a component of stockholder’s equity as “Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.”
 
The value of RMB against US$ and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in China’s political and economic conditions, any significant revaluation of RMB may materially affect our financial condition in terms of US$ reporting.  The following table outlines the currency exchange rates that were used in creating the consolidated financial statements in this report:
 
 
12

 
 
                                                                                            September 30, 2014            December 31, 2013
 
     Balance sheet items, except for share capital, additional        $ 1=RMB 6.1547     $1=RMB 6.1122
 
     paid in capital and retained earnings
 

 
     Amounts included in the statements of operations                  $ 1=RMB 6.1480   $1=RMB 6. 1171
 
     and cash flows for the periods
 

 
            Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
In April 2014, the FASB has issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity. Under the new guidance, only disposals representing a strategic shift in operations should be presented as discontinued operations. The new guidance also requires disclosure of the pre-tax income attributable to a disposal of a significant part of an organization that does not qualify for discontinued operations reporting. The amendments in the ASU are effective in the first quarter of 2015 for public organizations with calendar year ends. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance will have a significant impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Topic 606. This Update affects any entity that either enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enters into contracts for the transfer of nonfinancial assets, unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards. The guidance in this Update supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition and most industry-specific guidance. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to illustrate the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The new guidance also includes a cohesive set of disclosure requirements that will provide users of financial statements with comprehensive information about the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from a reporting organization’s contracts with customers. This ASU is effective retrospectively for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2016 for public companies and 2017 for non-public entities. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this ASU on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
 
In June 2014, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-12 Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718), Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period. The amendments stipulate that a performance target in a share-based payment that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period should be accounted for as a performance condition under Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation. As a result, the target is not reflected in the estimation of the award’s grant date fair value. Compensation cost should be recognized over the required service period, if it is probable that the performance condition would be achieved. The amendments in this Accounting Standards Update are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015 and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2014-12 to have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
 
13

 
 
In August 2014, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-15 Preparation of Financial Statements - Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40), Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity's Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. Under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), continuation of a reporting entity as a going concern is presumed as the basis for preparing financial statements unless and until the entity's liquidation becomes imminent. Preparation of financial statements under this presumption is commonly referred to as the going concern basis of accounting. If and when an entity's liquidation becomes imminent, financial statements should be prepared under the liquidation basis of accounting in accordance with Subtopic 205-30, Presentation of Financial Statements-Liquidation Basis of Accounting. Even when an entity's liquidation is not imminent, there may be conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about the entity's ability to continue as a going concern. In those situations, financial statements should continue to be prepared under the going concern basis of accounting, but the amendments in this Update should be followed to determine whether to disclose information about the relevant conditions and events. The amendments in this Accounting Standards Update are effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016, and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter. Early application is permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2014-15 to have material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements, although there may be additional disclosures upon adoption.
 
In November 2014, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-16, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Determining Whether the Host Contract in a Hybrid Financial Instrument Issued in the Form of a Share Is More Akin to Debt or to Equity (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force). The amendments permit the use of the Fed Funds Effective Swap Rate (also referred to as the Overnight Index Swap Rate, or OIS) as a benchmark interest rate for hedge accounting purposes. Public business entities are required to implement the new requirements in fiscal years (and interim periods within those fiscal years) beginning after December 15, 2015. All other types of entities are required to implement the new requirements in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2014-16 to have material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statement.

 
NOTE 3– INVENTORIES, NET
 
            Inventories are summarized as follows (in thousands):
 
   
September 30, 2014
   
December 31, 2013
 
             
Work in Process
  $ 3,017     $ 2,228  
Parts and supplies
    4,315       2,906  
Finished goods
    4,500       4,881  
      11,832       10,015  
Less - inventory reserve
    (1,960 )     (1,981 )
  Inventories, net
  $ 9,872     $ 8,034  

 
14

 
 
 Changes in the Company’s inventory reserve are as follows (in thousands): 
 
   
September 30, 2014
   
December 31, 2013
 
Balance  opening period
  $ 1,981     $ 2,325  
Current provision for
 Jonway Auto
    -       (529 )
Current provision for
inventory ZAP-net
    (21 )     185  
Balance end of period
  $ 1,960     $ 1,981  

 

 
NOTE 4 – DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
 
Distribution agreements are presented below (in thousands):
 
   
September 30, 2014
   
December 31, 2013
 
             
Better World Products-related party
  $ 2,160     $ 2,160  
CNG Products
    5,969       -  
Jonway Products
    14,400       14,400  
      22,529       16,560  
Less amortization
    (7,800 )     (6,721 )
    $ 14,729     $ 9,839  

 
Amortization expense related to these distribution agreements for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 were $360,000 and $360,000, respectively.  Amortization expense related to these distribution agreements for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 were $1,080,000 and $1,080,000, respectively.  Amortization is based over the term of the agreements. There were no amortization expenses for CNG products as it has not yet been marketed in the first three quarters of 2014.
 
Distribution Agreement with Jonway Auto for CNG Products
 
On June 26, 2014, ZAP entered into an International Distribution with Jonway Auto as the distributor of Jonway Auto’s compressed natural gas SUV and compressed natural gas minivan, both in the US. and internationally. In connection with the distribution agreement the Company also issued 61 million shares of ZAP common stock valued at $6.0 million to Jonway Group.  Jonway Group had to pay the outstanding minivan mold balance in exchange for the 61 million shares of ZAP’s common stock.
 
 
15

 
 
NOTE 5– INVESTMENT IN JOINT VENTURES
 
On December 11, 2009, the Company entered into a Joint Venture Agreement to establish a new US-China company incorporated as ZAP Hangzhou to design and manufacture electric vehicle and infrastructure technology with Holley Group, the parent company of a global supplier of electric power meters and Better World. Priscilla Lu, Ph.D., who is the current Chairman of the Board of ZAP, is also a director and General Partner of Cathaya Capital, which is a shareholder of Better World. In January of 2011, Holley Group’s interest in ZAP Hangzhou was purchased by Jonway Group. ZAP and Better World each own 37.5% of the equity shares of ZAP Hangzhou, and Jonway Group owns 25% of the equity shares of ZAP Hangzhou. The joint venture partners have also funded the initial capital requirements under the agreement for a total of $3 million, of which ZAP’s portion is $1.1 million.
 
In November 2011, Jonway and ZAP Hangzhou jointly set up Shanghai Zapple Electric Vehicle Technologies Co., Ltd. (Shanghai Zapple) with the focus to support “EV car sharing” or EV leasing.  Zapple has a registered capital of RMB 20 million. Jonway and ZAP Hangzhou each own 50% of the equity share of Shanghai Zapple. Jonway injected RMB 5 million into this joint venture and ZAP Hangzhou injected RMB 3 million.
 
The carrying amount of the Company’s investment in the joint ventures is as follows:
 
 
   
ZAP Hangzhou
   
Shanghai Zapple
   
Total
 
                   
Balance as of December 31, 2012
  $ 437     $ 461     $ 898  
Less: investment loss
    (438 )     (461 )     (899 )
CTA
    1       --       1  
Balance as of December 31, 2013
    --       --       --  
Less: Investment loss
    --       --       --  
CTA
    --       --       --  
Balance as of September 30, 2014
  $ --     $ --     $ --  
  
 
The carrying amount of the Joint Venture investment had been written down to $0 as of December 31, 2013. The Company recorded a loss of $0 and $182,000 in ZAP Hangzhou for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The Company recorded a loss of $0 and $79,000 in ZAP Hangzhou for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Due to the suspension of Shanghai Zapple operations, the company recorded a loss of $0 and $461,000 in Shanghai Zapple for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 respectively. These losses relate to investment in non-consolidated joint ventures accounted for under the equity method of accounting because the Company does not have control.
 

 
NOTE 6 –LINE OF CREDIT, SHORT TERM DEBT AND BANK ACCEPTANCE NOTES
 
Line of credit (Credit Exposure)
 
 
16

 
 
              In November 2013, we were approved up to an aggregate of $24.3 million of a credit line, with the credit exposure of $6.3 million from the Sanmen Branch of CITIC Bank (“CITIC”) through Jonway. In March 2014, the credit exposure increased by $1.0 million to $7.3 million. When drawn down, the credit line is secured by land and buildings owned by Jonway and guaranteed by the related party Jonway Group. Jonway borrowed one year short-term loans in the aggregate amount of $6.3 million in November 2013. In April 2014, the company partially repaid $0.56 million. The annual interest rate is 6.6%, and the loans are due in November 2014. In March 2014, Jonway borrowed one year short-term loan of $1.0 million. The annual interest rate is 7.08% and the loan is due in March 2015. We have also drawn down $5.6 million in the form of notes payable as of September 30, 2014. Except for a note payable utilizing the credit exposure of $0.56 million, we deposited 100% cash as restricted cash as collateral for these notes payable. These notes are due in October, 2014.  As of September 30, 2014, the credit exposure of $7.3 million has been fully used. The credit line expires in November 2015. The Company repaid the note payable due in October 2014. After September 30, 2014, the bank agreed to renew the credit line.
 
In December 2012, we were approved up to an aggregate of $4.1 million of a credit line from Taizhou Bank. This credit line was reduced to $2.4 million in early 2014 when it was renewed. This credit line was guaranteed by related parties. As of September 30, 2014, the total outstanding loans under this credit line were $1.1 million. The loans are due separately in November 2014 and February 2015 respectively. The annual interest rates are 8.89% and 8.93% respectively. A credit exposure of $1.2 million was used in the form of notes payable of $3.2 million with restricted cash of $2.0 million being deposited with the bank. As of September 30, 2014, a total credit exposure of $2.4 million has been used. The Company repaid the loan due in October 2014. The credit line has not renewed as of November 14, 2014.
 
               In December 2013, we were approved for up to an aggregate of $9.1 million of a credit line from Everbright Bank. This credit line can only been used in the form of notes payable with 50% restricted cash deposited. Thus, we were approved a credit exposure of $4.5 million. This credit line was guaranteed by the shareholder Wang Huaiyi, as well as a building and land use right at the carrying value of $2.1 million. As of September 30, 2014, $6.9 million was drawn down as notes payable. The amount of restricted cash deposited with the bank was $3.8 million.  In June 2014, Jonway borrowed a 6 months short-term loan of $0.31 million at interest rate of 7.28%. In July 2014, Jonway borrowed an 11 months short-term loan of $1.2 million at interest rate of 7.2%. As of September 30, 2014, the credit exposure of $4.5 million has been fully used. The credit line expires in December 2014 and not yet renewed as of November 14, 2014. The Company repaid the note payable due in October 2014.
 
                In December 2013, we were approved up to an aggregate of $5.4 million of a credit line from Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC). This credit line was secured by land and buildings owned by Jonway and guaranteed by related parties. As of September 30, 2014, the total outstanding loan under this credit line was $6.5 million with $1.6 million of restricted cash deposited with the bank. The annual interest rates are from 5.0% to 7.2%.  The loans are due in various dates from October 2014 to September 2015. Jonway also drew down $0.49 million in the form of a note payable as of June 2014. We deposited 100% cash as restricted cash for the note payable. As of September 30, 2014, a credit exposure of $4.9 million has been used, and $0.5 million was still available for use. The credit line expires in December 2014 and not yet renewed as of November 14, 2015. The Company repaid the loan due in October 2014.
 
In October 2014, Jonway repaid the short term debts of $2.27 million and bank acceptance notes of $7.4 million when they became due.  Except for the aforesaid repayment, there are no short term loan and bank acceptance notes due by November 14, 2014. There is no bank acceptance notes issued after September 30, 2014.
 
 Short term debt

In November 2013, Jonway borrowed one year short-term loans in the aggregate amount of $6.3 million from CITIC. The annual interest rate is 6.6%, and the loans are due in November 2014. In April 2014, Jonway partially repaid $0.56 million. In March 2014, Jonway borrowed $0.98 million from CITIC Bank. The loan expires in March 2015 and the annual interest rate is 7.08%. The loans are secured by a Maximum Amount Mortgage Contract between Jonway and CITIC dated November 11, 2013, in which a land use right and a building with a total carrying amount of $6.1 million as of September 30, 2014 has been pledged as security for this loan. The shareholder and Co-CEO Alex Wang also personally guaranteed these loans.
 
 
17

 
 
In July, August and November 2013, the company borrowed a total of $2.1 million of short term loans at interest rates of 8.46% and 8.89% from Taizhou Bank.  The loans are guaranteed by related parties including Jonway Group, the shareholder Wang Huayi and other individuals. Loans of $1.3 million were due in January and February 2014, and were repaid when due. The remaining balance of $0.8 million was repaid in May 2014. Jonway borrowed a short-term loan of $0.3 million in February 2014 at the annual interest rate of 8.89% which was repaid in August 2014. Jonway borrowed a short-term loan of $0.8 million in May 2014 at the annual interest rate of 8.89% which is due in November 2014. In August, Jonway borrowed a short-term loan of $0.3 million at the annual interest rate of 8.93% which is due in February 2015. In October 2014, Jonway repaid $0.81 million of a short term loan to Taizhou Bank when it became due. In October 2014, Jonway borrowed $0.81 million of a short term loan from Taizhou Bank. The loan expires in April 2015 and the annual interest rate is 8.496%
 
 
The Company also borrowed loans from Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) during 2013. In June 2013, Jonway borrowed a one year short-term loan of $1.1 million at the annual interest rate of 6.9%. The loan was due and repaid in June 2014. In August 2013, Jonway borrowed a 6 months short-term loan of $0.8 million. The annual interest rate was 5.6%. The loan was repaid when due in February 2014.  In August 2013, Jonway borrowed a one year short-term loan of $ 1.1 million. The annual interest rate was 6.9%. It was due and repaid. In September 2013, Jonway borrowed a 6 months short-term loan of $0.7 million. The annual interest rate was 5.6%. The loan was repaid when due in March 2014.  In November 2013, Jonway borrowed a one year short term loan of $1.5 million.  The annual interest rate was 7.2%. In December 2013, Jonway borrowed a one year short term loan of $1.1 million. The annual interest rate was 7.2%.In March 2014, Jonway borrowed a 6-month short-term loan of $0.8 million with 100% cash deposited as collateral for the loans. The annual interest rate is 5.6% and repaid when due in September 2014. In April 2014, Jonway borrowed a 6 months short-term loan of 0.8 million with 100% cash deposited as collateral for the loans. The annual interest rate is 6%. In June 2014, Jonway borrowed a one year short-term loan of $1.1 million at the annual interest rate of 6.256%. In August 2014, Jonway borrowed a one year short-term loan of $1.1 million at the annual interest rate of 6.92%. In September 2014, Jonway borrowed a 6-month short-term loan of $0.8 million at the annual interest rate of 5.04%. These loans were guaranteed by related parties including Jonway Group, the shareholder Wang Huaiyi and the shareholder and Co-CEO Alex Wang. The Company also pledged buildings and a land use right with a carrying value of $3.58 million with ICBC and $1.6 million of restricted cash of September 30, 2014. In October 2014, Jonway repaid $1.46 million of a short term loan to ICBC when it became due. In  October 2014, Jonway borrowed $1.46 million of a short term loan from ICBC. The loan expires in October 2015 and the annual interest rate is 6.6%
 
 
In June 2014, the company borrowed a 6 month short-term loan of $0.31 million at an interest rate of 7.28% from China Everbright Bank. In July 2014, Jonway borrowed a 11 months short-term loan of $1.2 million at the annual interest rate of 7.2%. The loans were guaranteed by the shareholder Wang Huaiyi, as well as a building and land use right with a carrying value of $2.1 million.
 
The weighted average annual interest rate during 2013 was 7.04%, the weighted average annual interest rate for the first three quarters of 2014 was 6.95%, 7.45% and 7.0% respectively
 
          (in thousands)
 
 
18

 
 
   
September 30, 2014
   
December 31, 2013
 
Loan from CITIC bank
  $ 6,752       6,381  
Loan from ICBC
    6,476       6,381  
Loan from Taizhou Bank
    1,137       2,127  
Loan from China Everbright Bank
    1,527       -  
Loan from Pay-Ins Prem
    200       72  
    $ 16,092       14,961  

 
Bank acceptance notes
 
As of September 30, 2014, the Company has bank acceptance notes payable in the amount of $16.2 million. The notes are guaranteed to be paid by the banks and are usually for a short-term period of nine months. The Company is required to maintain cash deposits of 50% or 100% of the notes payable with these banks, in order to ensure future credit availability. As of September 30, 2014, the restricted cash for the notes was $11.4 million.
 
– 3 to 6 month term for each note issued (in thousands)
 
   
September 30, 2014
   
December 31, 2013
 
a) Bank acceptance notes payable to China Everbright bank
  $ 6,856     $ 8,891  
b) Bank acceptance notes payable to Taizhou bank
    3,246       3,927  
c) Bank acceptance notes payable to CITIC bank
    5,566       2,700  
d) Bank acceptance notes payable to ICBC
    487       177  
    $ 16,155     $ 15,695  
 
 
a.  
Notes payable to China Everbright bank have various maturity dates from October 2014 to March 2015. The notes payable are guaranteed by a land use right and a building with a total carrying value of $2.1 million. The Company is also required to maintain cash deposits at 50% of the notes payable with the bank, in order to ensure future credit availability. In October 2014, the company repaid the note payable when it became due.
 
b.  
Notes payable to Taizhou bank have various maturity dates from October 2014 to February, 2015. The Company is required to maintain cash deposits at 50% to 100% of the notes payable with the bank, in order to ensure future credit availability. In October 2014, the company repaid the note payable when it became due.
 
c.  
Notes payable to CITIC bank will be due from October 2014 to March 2015.  Except for a note payable utilizing credit exposure of $1.12 million, the Company is required to maintain cash deposits at 100% of the notes payable with the bank, in order to ensure future credit availability. In October 2014, the company repaid the note payable when it became due.
 
d.  
Notes payable to ICBC will be due in December 2014. The Company is required to maintain cash deposits at 50% to 100% of the notes payable with the bank, in order to ensure future credit availability.

In October 2014, approximately $7.4 million of notes payable matured and repaid. There is no notes payable issued after September 30, 2014.
 
 
19

 
 
 NOTE 7- CONVERTIBLE BOND
 
On June 12, 2013, the Company signed a convertible bond agreement, pursuant to which a Convertible Bond would be put in place to fund the formation of JAZ (Jonway and ZAP) from the ZAP Hangzhou Joint Venture that was formed in 2010 in China, Hangzhou. The Convertible Bond was to be funded at US$2 million with the option to convert to ZAP shares. The Company received $1.7 million of the $2 million. As of October 27th, 2014, US$500,000 of the convertible bond has been repaid to one of the bond holders (Korea Yung), and US$600,000 has been converted to ZAP shares by the other bond holders, leaving an outstanding principal amount of $600,000 on the bond yet to be repaid in cash or in ZAP shares.
 
Effective September 29, 2014, the Company and Korea Yung amended their original agreement dated August 12, 2014. Under the amendment, the Company made a payment totaling $528,500 to Yung as of October 27th, 2014.  The payment represented a principal reduction of $500,000 and $28,500 of interest on the Company’s outstanding convertible bond held by Yung. Per the agreement, the Company will release 7,095,344 shares from escrow and deliver the shares to Yung, or repay the remaining $600,000 principal in cash in part or in full, on or before December 31, 2014 or within five (5) business days thereafter.
 
NOTE 8 – SEGMENT REPORTING
 
Operating Segments
 
                In accordance with ASC 280, the Company has identified four reportable segments consisting of Jonway Vehicles, Advanced Technology Vehicles, ZAP (Consumer Product) and ZAP Hong Kong. The Jonway Vehicles segment represents sales of the gas fueled and electric vehicles of Jonway A380 three and five-door sports utility vehicles, minivans and spare parts principally through distributors in China. The Advanced Technology Vehicles segment represents EV sales and marketing outside of China. The Consumer Product segment represents our ZAPPY3 personal transporters. The Company’s chief operating decision making group, which is comprised of the Chief Executive Officer and the senior executives of each of ZAP’s strategic segments, regularly evaluate the financial information about these segments in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance.

     The performance of each segment is measured based on its profit or loss from operations before
 
income taxes. Segment results are summarized as follows (in thousands):
 
 
20

 
 
   
Jonway
   
Electric
         
Advanced
             
   
Conventional
   
Consumer
         
Technology
             
   
Vehicles
   
Products
   
Car outlet
   
Vehicles
   
ZAP HK
   
Total
 
                                     
For the three months ended September 30, 2014:
                                   
    Net sales
  $ 4,951     $ 269     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 5,220  
    Gross profit (loss)
  $ (692 )   $ 72     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ (620 )
    Depreciation and amortization
  $ 1,445     $ 655     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 2,100  
    Net profit (loss)
  $ (2,837 )   $ (1,966 )   $ -     $ -     $ -     $ (4,803 )
    Total assets
  $ 82,207     $ 22,870     $ -     $ -     $ 1,439     $ 106,516  
                                                 
                                                 
For the three months ended September 30, 2013
                                               
                                                 
    Net sales
  $ 9,660     $ 252     $       $ 17     $ -     $ 9,929  
    Gross profit (loss)
  $ 512     $ 107     $       $ (6 )   $ -     $ 613  
    Depreciation and amortization
  $ 1389     $ 657     $       $ -     $ -     $ 2,046  
    Net loss
  $ (1,719 )   $ (1,622 )   $       $ (5 )   $ -     $ (3,346 )
    Total assets
  $ 88,226     $ 22,692     $       $ 0     $ -     $ 110,918  
                                                 
                                                 
For the nine  months ended September 30, 2014:
                                               
    Net sales
  $ 18,926     $ 704     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 19,630  
    Gross profit (loss)
  $ (1,759 )   $ 189     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ (1,570 )
    Depreciation and amortization
  $ 4,309     $ 1,967     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 6,276  
    Net profit (loss)
  $ (8,424 )   $ (5,262 )   $ -     $ -     $ -     $ (13,686 )
    Total assets
  $ 82,207     $ 22,870     $ -     $ -     $ 1,439     $ 106,516  
                                                 
                                                 
For the nine months ended September 30, 2013
                                               
                                                 
    Net sales
  $ 35,878     $ 639     $ -     $ 45     $ -     $ 36,562  
    Gross profit (loss)
  $ 166     $ 174     $ -     $ (32 )   $ -     $ 308  
    Depreciation and amortization
  $ 4,079     $ 1,970     $ -     $ 0     $ -     $ 6,049  
    Net loss
  $ (8,360 )   $ (5,078 )   $ (174 )   $ (33 )   $ -     $ (13,645 )
    Total assets
  $ 88,226     $ 22,692     $ -     $ 0     $ -     $ 110,918  
 
 
Operating segments do not sell products to each other, and accordingly, there is no inter-segment revenue to be reported.
 
Customer information
 
Approximately 96% or $18.9 million of our revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 are from sales in China. Jonway Auto distributes its products to an established network of over 50 factory level dealers in China. Approximately 98% or $35.9 million of our revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 are from sales in China. Jonway Auto distributed its products to an established network of over 50 factory level dealers in China.
 
Supplier information
 
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, approximately 96.6% or $5.6 million and  97.6% or $20.6 million and 98.2% or $9.1 million and 98.5% or $35.7 million of the consolidated cost of goods sold were purchased in China.

 
21

 


NOTE 9– RELATED PARTIES

Due from (to) related parties
 
Amounts due from related parties are principally for advances in the normal course of business for parts and supplies used in manufacturing.
 
Amount due from related parties are as follows:
           
   
September 30, 2014
   
December 31, 2013
 
Sanmen Branch of Zhejiang UFO Automobile Manufacturing Co., Ltd
  $ 2,767     $ 4,973  
JAZ
    1,166       961  
ZAP Hangzhou
    40       127  
Total
  $ 3,973     $ 6,061  
                 
                 
                 
Amount due to related parties are follows:
               
   
September 30, 2014
   
December 31, 2013
 
Jonway Group
  $ 4,213     $ 303  
Jonway Motor Cycle
    134       113  
Taizhou Huadu
    701       631  
Shanghai Zapple
    37       36  
Ms. Lu
    -       30  
Mr. Wang
    560       -  
Betterworld
    149       149  
Taizhou Jonway Electric Vehicle Selling Co
    953       -  
Cathaya Capital
    334       1147  
Total
  $ 7,081     $ 2,409  

 
 
Transactions with Jonway Group
 
Jonway Group is considered a related party as the Wang Family, one of the shareholders of the Company, has controlling interests in Jonway Group. Jonway Group supplies some of the plastic spare parts to Jonway and gave guarantees on Jonway short term bank facilities from China-based banks. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, Jonway made purchases from Jonway Group of $915,000 and $916,000. For the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, Jonway made purchases from Jonway Group of $241,000 and $236,000.
 
Jonway Agreement with Zhejiang UFO
 
                Based on a contract by and among Zhejiang UFO, Jonway Group and Jonway dated as of January 1, 2006, Zhejiang UFO has authorized Jonway to operate its Sanmen Branch to assemble and sell UFO branded SUVs for a period of 10 years starting from January 1, 2006.
 
According to the contract, Jonway shall pay Zhejiang UFO a variable contractual fee which is calculated based on the number of SUVs that Jonway assembles in the Sanmen Branch every year, at the following rates (historical exchange rate):
 
 
22

 

 
The first 3,000 vehicles
$44 per vehicle
   
Vehicles from 3,001 to 5,000
$30 per vehicle
   
Vehicles over 5,000
$22 per vehicle
 
Zhejiang UFO is considered a related party because the Wang Family, who are shareholders of Jonway, has certain non-controlling equity interests in Zhejiang UFO.
 
 
NOTE 10 – SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
              Cathaya Operations Management Limited and China Electric Vehicle Corp have elected to convert the amounts recorded as due to related parties to common stock.  The amount of $967,543 due to Cathaya Operations Management Limited have been converted into 17,819,783 shares of common stock at 30% below market price based on the average trading prices of the previous 120 days after notification. The 17,819,783 shares of common stock have been issued in April 2014
 
 
China Electric Vehicle Corporation (CEVC) has elected to convert the interest of $639,068 due on the $20.7 million convertible note to 6,439,552 shares of common stock at the average of the closing prices for each trading day during such fiscal quarter ended on (and including) the last trading day of such fiscal quarter. The 6,439,552 shares of common stock have been issued in April 2014.
 
In March 2014, Jonway Group agreed to pay all of the outstanding mold expenses of the Minivan that is currently still outstanding, and in return ZAP will share half of the asset value and share the IPR (50%) of the Minivan with Jonway Auto. The Minivan was purchased by ZAP from a prior agreement between ZAP and Jonway Group which was signed on January 18, 2012.  In return for ZAP receiving worldwide exclusivity for the sales, distribution, and product IPR rights for all current and future models of the compressed natural gas (“CNG”) versions of Jonway Auto’s Products, including, but not limited to, SUV, minivan, and all other models, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized on March 28, 2014 to issue 61,000,000 shares of common stock to the companies owned by the Co-CEO and shareholder Alex Wang, including 20,000,000 shares to Major Management Limited, 20,000,000 shares to Max Reliance Management Limited and 21,000,000 shares to New Dragon Management Limited. The 61,000,000 shares of common stock have been issued in April 2014.
 
   In May 2014, ZAP issued 62,500 shares of common stock to Jeffery and Karen Bank, who paid $5,000 in cash on behalf of ZAP to address a lawsuit from Jackson Long.
 
On February 26, 2014, a binding letter of commitment in equity investment in ZAP was signed between the Company and four individual investors. The four individual investors are the representatives of the employees of Jonway Auto and Jonway Group in China and they will hold the issued stocks on behalf of these employees. The shares were issued at discounted share price based on averaged price over the last 60 days from the date of signing the agreement. As of September 30, 2014, $1.9 million was received by ZAP. The number of stock issued on August 14, 2014 was 31,666,668.
 
 
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NOTE 11– LITIGATION
 
1. On January 11, 2013, Cathaya Capital, L.P., a ZAP shareholder (“Cathaya”), and Priscilla Lu, Chairman of the ZAP Board of Directors (“Lu”) (collectively “Plaintiffs”), filed a lawsuit in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, styled Cathaya Capital, L.P. et al. v.  ZAP, et al., Case No. BC499106 (the “Cathaya Lawsuit”).  By the Cathaya Lawsuit, Plaintiffs, derivatively on behalf of the nominally-named defendant ZAP, asserted claims for breach of fiduciary duty and conversion against the following three members of the ZAP Board of Directors:  Mark Abdou (“Abdou”), Steven Schneider (“Schneider”) and Wang Gang a/k/a Alex Wang (the “Minority Board Member Defendants”).  In addition, Plaintiffs, derivatively on ZAP’s behalf, sought declaratory and injunctive relief against the Minority Board Member Defendants for their alleged tortious misconduct and breaches of fiduciary duty.  Plaintiffs also asserted causes of action on their own behalf pursuant to California Corporations Code sections 304 and 709, for a judgment as to the rightful composition of the Board and to remove the Minority Board Member Defendants from the Board.
 
Lu and ZAP filed a Demurrer to the Second Amended Cross-Complaint’s first, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth claims.  On March 3, 2014, the Court granted the Demurrer in its entirety and dismissed all claims asserted by Abdou and Schneider against Lu, without leave to amend.  In addition, the Court dismissed all tort claims against ZAP.  However, the Court’s ruling does not dismiss all claims against ZAP regarding unpaid employee compensation.  The Abdou/Schneider claims against ZAP for unpaid compensation were not before the Court and therefore were not affected by the Court’s ruling and have not been dismissed. These contract-based claims are against ZAP only and do not allow for punitive damages.
 
            ZAP intends to vigorously defend the Second Amended Cross-Complaint. 
 
On March 13, 2014, the Company filed its own operative First Amended Cross-Complaint in the Cathaya Lawsuit (the “ZAP Cross-Complaint”) against Abdou and Schneider, alleging causes of action for (1) breach of fiduciary duty; (2) conversion; (3) imposition of a constructive trust; and (4) an accounting.  By the ZAP Cross-Complaint, the Company is, among other things, pursuing Schneider and Abdou for return of inventory and assets that were removed from the Company’s warehouse, as well as cash that was redirected to another account.
 
The Court set January 15, 2015 as the trial date for all parties’ claims asserted in the Cathaya Lawsuit. 
 
On May 15, 2014, Abdou’s and Schneider’s counsel filed a motion to be relieved as counsel in the Cathaya Lawsuit, which was granted on August 4, 2014.  Consequently, Abdou and Schneider were unrepresented in the Cathaya Law suit as of August 4, 2014 

On June 6, 2014, the Court entered an Order Granting Plaintiff’s Motion for Sanctions due to Violations of Court’s Discovery Order, which imposed certain monetary and evidentiary sanctions against Abdou and Schneider, including, among other things, precluding Abdou and Schneider from calling certain witnesses and offering evidence of or relating to certain issues at trial. 

2. A letter was received in May 2012 from a shareholder regarding various prior transactions of the Company which the Company is working to address and clarify.  A tolling agreement was reached between the Company and shareholder on October 22, 2012 whereas the company, through its legal council shall provide a written summary of the actions taken during the preceding month with respect to the matters regarding the prior transactions in question by the shareholder.  These transactions include, but are not limited to, a) ZAP, Jonway Group, Jonway Auto and Cathaya Capital shall each in all respects comply with their executory obligations with respect to the continued funding of ZAP, b) resolve the litigation regarding  the former contracted employee, c) use reasonable efforts to defend, compromise and/or settle any pending and future litigations and ZAP shall use all reasonable efforts to cause all officers, directors and such other individuals who are or were employees, agents or representatives of ZAP to fully cooperate in the defense  of future arbitrations or litigations.  This agreement is binding through December 31, 2015.
 
 
24

 
 
Other Regulatory Compliance Matters
 
           ZAP has filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Agency (NHTSA) that it is in non- compliance with Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements potential hazard may exist because the Model -Year 2008 XEBRA sedan and pickup does not stop in the required distance at 30 miles per hour and the master cylinder does not have separate brake fluid reservoirs with proper labeling and other miscellaneous non- compliance issues.
 
ZAP and the United States reached a settlement that is incorporated into a Consent Decree that was entered and approved by the U.S. District Court on July 17, 2013.  Pursuant to the Consent Decree, ZAP agreed to initiate a buy-back program whereby it will offer to provide a refund of $3,100 to each eligible MY 2008 ZAP Xebra owner.  The Consent Decree also contains notification and reporting requirements and requires ZAP to take specified actions regarding the disposition of repurchased vehicles and MY 2008 Xebras that remain in ZAP’s possession.  In accordance with the Consent Decree, the Company mailed the required notification letters to registered vehicle owners and ZAP Xebra dealers, along with a Refund Request Form.  The repurchase offer extends to 691 vehicles that have been sold by ZAP.
 
As of September 30, 2014 the Company had deemed 317 vehicle owners eligible for a refund and picked up 315 of the vehicles. The Company had paid out $1,059,755 to owners of the recalled 2008 Xebras as of September 30, 2014.  This amount includes refunds and the cost to transport and destroy vehicles.  The period for vehicle owners to qualify for refunds has expired and ZAP believes it has no obligation to issue further refunds.

 
               The Company has accrued for estimated expenses related to above claims last year, and the amount refunded is less than the accrued estimated amount. The excess amount will be reversed into income when the relevant authority satisfies that the company has met the obligation.
 

 
 NOTE 12– COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 
Guarantees
 
Jonway Auto guaranteed certain financial obligations of outside third parties including suppliers and dealers to support our business and economic growth. Guarantees will terminate on payment and/or cancellation of the obligation once it is repaid. A payment by Jonway Auto would be triggered by failure of the guaranteed party to fulfill its obligation covered by the guarantee. Maximum potential payments under guarantees total $1.9 million and $6.8 million as of September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. This is a reduction of $4.9 million from 2013. The guarantee expires in December 2014. Our performance risk under these guarantees is reviewed regularly, and has resulted in no changes to our initial valuations.
 
 
25

 
 
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
 
 
This quarterly report including the following management’s discussion and analysis, and other reports filed by the registrant from time to time with the securities and exchange commission (collectively the “filings”) contain forward-looking statements which are intended to convey our expectations or predictions regarding the occurrence of possible future events or the existence of trends and factors that may impact our future plans and operating results. These forward-looking statements are derived, in part, from various assumptions and analyses we have made in the context of our current business plan and information currently available to us and in light of our experience and perceptions of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors we believe to be appropriate in the circumstances. you can generally identify forward-looking statements through words and phrases such as “seek”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “budget”, “project”, “may be”, “may continue”, “may likely result”, and similar expressions. When reading any forward-looking statement you should remain mindful that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain as they are based on current expectations and assumptions concerning future events or future performance of our company, and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors relating to our industry and results of operations, including but not limited to the following factors:

 
 
·
our ability to establish, maintain and strengthen our brand;
 
 
·
our ability to successfully integrate acquired subsidiaries, particularly Jonway, into our company and business;
 
 
·
our ability to maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures;
 
 
·
our limited operating history, particularly of ZAP and Jonway on a consolidated basis;
 
 
·
whether the alternative energy and gas-efficient vehicle market for our electric products continues to grow and, if it does, the pace at which it may grow;
 
 
·
our ability to attract and retain the personnel qualified to implement our growth strategies;
 
 
·
our ability to obtain approval from government authorities for our products;
 
 
·
our ability to protect the patents on our proprietary technology;
 
 
·
our ability to fund our short-term and long-term financing needs;
 
 
·
our ability to compete against large competitors in a rapidly changing market for electric and conventional fuel  vehicles;
 
 
·
changes in our business plan and corporate strategies; and
 
 
·
Other risks and uncertainties discussed in greater detail in various sections of this report, or set forth in part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K under the heading “Risk Factors”.
 
 Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ significantly from those anticipated, believed, estimated, expected, intended or planned.
 
Each forward-looking statement should be read in context with, and with an understanding of, the various other disclosures concerning our company and our business made in our filings. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement as a prediction of actual results or developments. We are not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking statement contained in this report to reflect new events or circumstances unless and to the extent required by applicable law.
   
 
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In this quarterly report on Form 10-Q the term “ZAP” refers to ZAP, the term “Jonway” refers to Zhejiang Jonway Automobile Co. Ltd., of which ZAP owns 51% of the equity shares, “ZAP Jonway” refers to both ZAP and Jonway on a consolidated basis, and “we,” “us” and “our” refer to ZAP or ZAP Jonway, as the context indicates.
 
Recent Developments
 
 Jonway signed an OEM contract with AIMA, the largest producer of EV motorcycles in the world, to manufacture and produce a new version of the Urbee for AIMA.  AIMA will be selling the new Urbee model through its network of over 2,000 EV motorcycle dealers throughout China.  AIMA is headquartered in Tianjin, China, and had sales of over 3 million electric motorcycles last year.  AIMA funded a new design for the Urbee to provide a unique look for AIMA’s brand.  Sales of the new models are projected to commence in January, 2015 and the products will be manufactured by Jonway. 
 
AIMA is one of five major OEM partners with whom Jonway has signed strategic agreements.  The other OEM partners are Sunra from Jiangsu Province, third largest EV motorcycle manufacturer in China, Zongshen, the largest EV 3-wheel motorcycle manufacturer in China, based out of Jiangsu, Da Jiang from Hebei Province, and Wu Yang from Henan Province.
 
Jonway received type approval certification for its SUV in Brazil and signed an annual sales contract with its partner Agra 8000, a Brazilian company headquartered in Rio de Janeiro.  After several years of extensive work by the joint partners, Jonway’s SUV has been calibrated to meet the E22 requirements, with complete type approval and certification issued for Brazil, and meeting all crash, safety, and emissions requirements.  The annual sales contract starts with initial monthly shipments of 50 SUVs per month.
 
In regard to Aptera, the board of ZAP has demanded that Co-CEO Alex Wang resolve the conflict of interest in Jonway Group’s purchase of the Aptera assets and the formation of the new company Aptera (same name as the product) in the USA.  Alex Wang has agreed to transfer the asset ownership of Aptera to Jonway Auto, but this issue currently remains unresolved.
 

 
Results of Operations

The following table sets forth, as a percentage of net sales, certain items included in ZAP’s condensed consolidated statements of operations (see Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes) for the periods indicated:

 
Three Months
   
Nine Months
 
 
Ended September 30,
   
Ended September 30,
 
   
2014
   
2013
   
2014
   
2013
 
Statements of Operations
Data:
                       
Net sales
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
Cost of sales
    111.9 %     93.8 %     108.0 %     99.2 %
Operating expenses
    62.6 %     32.2 %     48.1 %     31.6 %
Loss from operations
    -74.6 %     -26.0 %     -56.1 %     -30.7 %
Net loss attributable to ZAP
    -65.4 %     -25.2 %     -48.7 %     -26.1 %

 
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These results of operations that have been derived from our condensed consolidated financial statements, which were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and that include the results of operations of Jonway since the date of ZAP’s acquisition of 51% of the equity shares of Jonway on January 21, 2011.

Three Months Ended September 30, 2014 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
 

 
              Net sales for the three months ended September 30, 2014 were $5.2 million as compared to $10.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013.
 
             Jonway Auto’s revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2014 decreased by $4.7 million from $9.7 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 compared to $5.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2014. The sales volume decreased due to  the following factors: (i) more SUV models were launched into market by China-based auto makers, which intensified the competition, (ii) Although Jonway ‘s upgraded A380, which was launched  into the market to compete with these competitors, the resulting sales volume ramped up in this 3rd  quarter did not reach the expected volume (iii) China’s overall economic condition worsened during the quarter (the GDP increase rate for this quarter compared to same quarter in 2013 was 7.3%, which is unexpectedly low).
 
Our third quarter sales of our Advanced Technology segment sales decreased by $17,000 from $17,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2013 to $0 for the three months ended September 30, 2014.
 
       In our Consumer Product segment, sales increased $17,000 to $269,000 from $252,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 respectively.  
 
             Gross profit decreased by $1.2 million from a gross profit of $0.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 to a gross loss of $0.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014.  Our margins dropped from 6.2% to negative 11.9%.
 
       Jonway Auto’s gross profit decreased by $1.2 million from a gross profit of $512,000 in the third quarter of 2013 to a gross loss of $692,000 for the third quarter ended September 30, 2014. The sales volume for both SUV and minivan dropped in comparing with last year. The low sales volume did not generate sufficient contribution to absorb the operating cost leading to increase in gross loss
 
          The Consumer Products segment experienced a decrease in gross profit of $35,000 from a gross profit of $107,000 in the three months ended September 30, 2013 to $72,000 in the three months ended September 30, 2014. The decrease was due to bulk sales to major customers carried out in 3rd quarter of 2014.
 
Sales and marketing expenses increased $0.5 million from $1.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, to $1.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014.  As a percentage of sales the expense increased from 12.3% for the three months ended September 30, 2013 to 32.6% for the three months ended September 30, 2014 due to the decrease in net sales and carrying out the promotion program for 1.5 liter model of SUV in the third quarter.
 
General and administrative expenses decreased by $0.4 million from $1.8 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 to $1.4 million in 2014. It was due to cost control and a drop in subcontracting fees as sales volume dropped.
 
 
28

 
 
              Research and development expenses decreased by $1,000 from $120,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2013 to $119,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2014.
 
               Interest expense increased by $169,000, from $955,000 in the third quarter of 2013 to $1.1 million in the third quarter of 2014. In 2014, the amortization of the previous year’s discount on the convertible debt was significantly higher and we are incurring interest on our notes and short term borrowings.
 
               Other income decreased by $51,000 from $263,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2013 to $212,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2014. It was due to a decrease in sales of scrap.
 
Nine months Ended September 30, 2014 Compared to Nine months Ended September 30, 2013
 
              Net sales decreased by $17.0 million from $36.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 to $19.6 million in September 30, 2014.  
 
               Jonway auto’s revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 decreased by $17.0 million from $35.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 to $18.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The sales volume decreased due to  the following factors: (i) more SUV models were launched into market by China-based auto makers, which intensified the competition, (ii) China’s overall economic condition worsened during the three quarters of 2014 (the GDP increase rate for the three quarters of 2014 compared to same period in 2013 was 7.4%, which is unexpectedly low).
 
  There were no sales in the Advanced Technology segment in the three quarters of 2014. Sales dropped by $45,000 from September 30, 2013 to $0 of September 30, 2014.
 
Sales of consumer products comparing the first nine months of 2014 increased by $65,000 from $639,000 of the first nine months of 2013 to $704,000 in the three quarters of 2014.
 
Gross profit decreased by $1.9 million from gross profit of $308,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 to gross loss of $1.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.  The decrease in gross profit in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 principally related to the lower sales volume on both SUV and minivan.
 
Jonway auto’s gross profit decreased by $2.0 million from a gross profit of $0.2 million for the first nine months of 2013 to a gross loss of $1.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The decrease was primarily due to sales drop.
 
            Sales and marketing expenses decreased by $1.5 million from $4.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 to $3.2 million for the same period ended September 30, 2014.  As a percentage of sales the expense increased from 13.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 to 16.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 due to drop in net sales.  The company has been continuously trying to reduce the expenditures in 2014. There was a decrease in sales volume and overall decrease in sales and marketing expenses
 
               General and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 decreased by approximately $0.5 million, from $6.4 million in 2013 to $5.9 million in 2014. It was due to cost control and dropped in subcontracting fees.
 

            Research and development expenses decreased by $49,000 from $429,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 to $380,000 for the same period ended September 30, 2014. There were fewer projects carried out
 
 
29

 
 
                   Interest expense, net increased by $0.4 million from $2.6 million for the first nine months of 2013 to $3.0 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2014.The increase was due to increased borrowings in China and amortization of convertible debt costs.
 
Other income (expense) decreased $0.2 million from $0.8 million for the first nine months of 2013 to other income of $0.6 million for the first nine months of 2014. It was due to a decrease in sales of scrap.
 
Net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was $13.7 million loss compared to a $13.6 million loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
 

 
 
               Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
        In assessing our liquidity, we monitor and analyze our cash on-hand, liquidation value of our investment in related party securities, and our operating and capital expenditure commitments.  Our principal liquidity needs are to meet our working capital requirements, operating expenses and capital expenditure obligations.  At September 30, 2014, we believe that we will have sufficient liquidity required to conduct operations through September 30, 2015.

In January 2011, ZAP issued $19.0 million of convertible debt to China Electric Vehicle Corporation (“CEVC”) to make a partial payment in connection with the Jonway Acquisition. On March 31, 2012 ZAP entered into an amendment to the note which extended the maturity date of the note without interest from August 12, 2012 to August 12, 2013. This amendment changed the terms of the note requiring adjustment of the conversion price of note for dilutive issuances by ZAP. The interest accrued through the maturity date of February 12, 2012 in the amount of $1.7 million has been added to the existing principal. The total amount of the convertible note is approximately $20.7 million with 8% interest rate per annum will have a new maturity date of August 12 2015.  It is likely that we will be able to extend the maturity of the debt upon the expiration date. In addition, the warrant issued in connection with the CEVC note was amended to change the terms of conversion and to extend the maturity date until August 12, 2015.
 
           We intend to fund our long term liquidity needs related to operations through the incurrence of indebtedness, equity financing or a combination of both.  Although we believe that these sources will provide sufficient liquidity for us to meet our future liquidity and capital obligations, our ability to fund these needs will depend on our future performance, which will be subject in part to general economic, financial, regulatory and other factors beyond our control, including trends in our industry and technological developments.  However, we may not be able to obtain this additional financing on terms acceptable to us or at all.
 
  On September 16, 2014 the Company entered into a Placement Agency Agreement with a company under which prospective purchasers of debt and equity securities issued by ZAP would be identified.  ZAP intends to raise capital in the future through the private placement of such securities.

              In the first nine months of 2014, net cash used in operating activities was $2.1 million.  Cash used in the first nine months of 2014 was comprised of the net loss incurred for the nine months of $13.7 million plus net non-cash expenses of $6.8 million including the depreciation of $5.2 million and amortization of $1.1 million and the net decrease of $4.8 million in operating assets and liabilities including the changes in due to related parties of $5.8 million, advance from customers of $2.0 million and due from related parties of $2.1 million. In the first nine months of 2013, net cash used for operating activities was $6.0 million. The drop in net cash used in operating activities was due to the financial support provided from Jonway Group to Jonway auto. The decrease in sales volume in this quarter had negative impact on Jonway Auto’s liquidity. As a shareholder of the company, Jonway Group will provide additional liquidity to the company and its subsidiaries in order to meet the financial obligations. Thus, the amount due to Jonway Group on September 30, 2014 was much higher than on December 31, 2013.
 
 
30

 
 
              Investing activities used cash of $1.0 million and $1.6 million in the first nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Investing activities were used for the purchase of equipment, offset by $40,000 proceeds from the sales of motor vehicles.
 
              Financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 provided cash of $1.4 million compared with financing activities that provided cash of $6.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. During the first nine months of 2014, we provided cash of $31.4 million in short term loan and notes.  We used cash of $29.6 million in repayment of notes and short term borrowings. The issuance of common stocks provided funds of $1.9 million. Restricted cash changed by $2.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, financing activities provided cash of $6.6 million, which was mostly contributed by the short term loan and notes.
 
              The Company had cash of $0.8 million at September 30, 2014 as compared to $2.6 million at December 31, 2013. The Company had working capital deficits of $70.9 million and $69.0 million for the periods ended September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 respectively.
 
In the event that we require additional liquidity, our Principal shareholders and related parties, Jonway Group, Alex Wang and Huaiyi Wang have agreed to provide the necessary support to meet our financial obligations through November 14, 2015.  In addition, CEVC (China Electric Vehicle Corporation) has renewed the convertible note and in the event that CEVC decides to call on the repayment, the repayment would be paid in full or in part in Jonway Auto shares or ZAP shares unless there is a breach by the Company on the covenant of the convertible note. 
 

Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates
 
Estimates

The preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles requires Management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. The more significant estimates relate to revenue recognition, contractual allowances and uncollectible accounts, intangible assets, accrued liabilities, derivative liabilities, income taxes, litigation and contingencies. Estimates are based on historical experience and on various other assumptions that the Company believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for judgments about results and the carrying values of assets and liabilities. Actual results and values may differ significantly from these estimates

 
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
 
None.

Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
 
           A smaller reporting company is not required to provide disclosure pursuant to this Item 3.
 
Item 4.  Controls and Procedures

As discussed in Item 9A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, we identified a lack of sufficient control in the area of technical competency in review and approval of financial reporting processes. This control weakness allowed for reconciliations, reports and other documents to be insufficiently reviewed prior to being approved by management and audit adjustments to be identified by our auditors as part of their year-end audit work. This material weakness resulted in errors in the recording of non-routine and complex accounting transactions in the preparation of our annual consolidated financial statements and disclosures. The Company is considering utilizing outside accounting experts to assist us in accounting for future complex transactions.
 
 
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              Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
               Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Co- Chief Executive Officers and our Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 Rules 13a-15(f). Based on this evaluation, our Co-Chief Executive Officers and our Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were ineffective as of the end of the period covered by this report.
 
 Changes in internal control over financial reporting

                  No significant changes were made in our internal control over financial reporting during this quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

   PART II – OTHER INFORMATION


Item 1.  Legal Proceedings


            1. On January 11, 2013, Cathaya Capital, L.P., a ZAP shareholder (“Cathaya”), and Priscilla Lu, Chairman of the ZAP Board of Directors (“Lu”) (collectively “Plaintiffs”), filed a lawsuit in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, styled Cathaya Capital, L.P. et al. v.  ZAP, et al., Case No. BC499106 (the “Cathaya Lawsuit”).  By the Cathaya Lawsuit, Plaintiffs, derivatively on behalf of the nominally-named defendant ZAP, asserted claims for breach of fiduciary duty and conversion against the following three members of the ZAP Board of Directors:  Mark Abdou (“Abdou”), Steven Schneider (“Schneider”) and Wang Gang a/k/a Alex Wang (the “Minority Board Member Defendants”).  In addition, Plaintiffs, derivatively on ZAP’s behalf, sought declaratory and injunctive relief against the Minority Board Member Defendants for their alleged tortious misconduct and breaches of fiduciary duty.  Plaintiffs also asserted causes of action on their own behalf pursuant to California Corporations Code sections 304 and 709, for a judgment as to the rightful composition of the Board and to remove the Minority Board Member Defendants from the Board.
 
 
Lu and ZAP filed a Demurrer to the Second Amended Cross-Complaint’s first, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth claims.  On March 3, 2014, the Court granted the Demurrer in its entirety and dismissed all claims asserted by Abdou and Schneider against Lu, without leave to amend.  In addition, the Court dismissed all tort claims against ZAP.  However, the Court’s ruling does not dismiss all claims against ZAP regarding unpaid employee compensation.  The Abdou/Schneider claims against ZAP for unpaid compensation were not before the Court and therefore were not affected by the Court’s ruling and have not been dismissed. These contract-based claims are against ZAP only and do not allow for punitive damages.
 
            ZAP intends to vigorously defend the Second Amended Cross-Complaint. 
 
On March 13, 2014, the Company filed its own operative First Amended Cross-Complaint in the Cathaya Lawsuit (the “ZAP Cross-Complaint”) against Abdou and Schneider, alleging causes of action for (1) breach of fiduciary duty; (2) conversion; (3) imposition of a constructive trust; and (4) an accounting.  By the ZAP Cross-Complaint, the Company is, among other things, pursuing Schneider and Abdou for return of inventory and assets that were removed from the Company’s warehouse, as well as cash that was redirected to another account.
 
 
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The Court set January 15, 2015 as the trial date for all parties’ claims asserted in the Cathaya Lawsuit. 
 
On May 15, 2014, Abdou’s and Schneider’s counsel filed a motion to be relieved as counsel in the Cathaya Lawsuit, which was granted on August 4, 2014.  Consequently, Abdou and Schneider were unrepresented in the Cathaya Law suit as of August 4, 2014 

On June 6, 2014, the Court entered an Order Granting Plaintiff’s Motion for Sanctions due to Violations of Court’s Discovery Order, which imposed certain monetary and evidentiary sanctions against Abdou and Schneider, including, among other things, precluding Abdou and Schneider from calling certain witnesses and offering evidence of or relating to certain issues at trial. 

2. A letter was received in May 2012 from a shareholder regarding various prior transactions of the Company which the Company is working to address and clarify.  A tolling agreement was reached between the Company and shareholder on October 22, 2012 whereas the company, through its legal council shall provide a written summary of the actions taken during the preceding month with respect to the matters regarding the prior transactions in question by the shareholder.  These transactions include, but are not limited to, a) ZAP, Jonway Group, Jonway Auto and Cathaya Capital shall each in all respects comply with their executory obligations with respect to the continued funding of ZAP, b) resolve the litigation regarding  the former contracted employee, c) use reasonable efforts to defend, compromise and/or settle any pending and future litigations and ZAP shall use all reasonable efforts to cause all officers, directors and such other individuals who are or were employees, agents or representatives of ZAP to fully cooperate in the defense  of future arbitrations or litigations.  This agreement is binding through December 31, 2015.

Other Regulatory Compliance Matters
 
           ZAP has filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Agency (NHTSA) that it is in non- compliance with Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements potential hazard may exist because the Model -Year 2008 XEBRA sedan and pickup does not stop in the required distance at 30 miles per hour and the master cylinder does not have separate brake fluid reservoirs with proper labeling and other miscellaneous non- compliance issues.
 

 
ZAP and the United States reached a settlement that is incorporated into a Consent Decree that was entered and approved by the U.S. District Court on July 17, 2013.  Pursuant to the Consent Decree, ZAP agreed to initiate a buy-back program whereby it will offer to provide a refund of $3,100 to each eligible MY 2008 ZAP Xebra owner.  The Consent Decree also contains notification and reporting requirements and requires ZAP to take specified actions regarding the disposition of repurchased vehicles and MY 2008 Xebras that remain in ZAP’s possession.  In accordance with the Consent Decree, the Company mailed the required notification letters to registered vehicle owners and ZAP Xebra dealers, along with a Refund Request Form.  The repurchase offer extends to 691 vehicles that have been sold by ZAP.
 
As of September 30, 2014 the Company had deemed 317 vehicle owners eligible for a refund and picked up 315 of the vehicles. The Company had paid out $1,059,755 to owners of the recalled 2008 Xebras as of September 30, 2014.  This amount includes refunds and the cost to transport and destroy vehicles.  The period for vehicle owners to qualify for refunds has expired and ZAP believes it has no obligation to issue further refunds.

 
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               The Company has accrued for estimated expenses related to above claims last year, and the amount refunded is less than the accrued estimated amount. The excess amount will be reversed into income when the relevant authority satisfies that the company has met the obligation.
 

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the Company’s risk factors which are included and described in the annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.


Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

None


Item 3.  Defaults upon Senior Securities

None


Item 4.  Mine safety disclosure

Not Applicable

 
Item 5.  Other Information

None

Item 6.  Exhibits

(b) Exhibits.
 
Exhibit
Exhibit Number
 
Description
31.1
 
Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14/15d-14 of the Exchange Act, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
31.3
 
Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 13a-14/15d-14 of the Exchange Act as  Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
32.1
 
Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
101.INS*
XBRL Instance Document
   
101.SCH*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
   
101.CAL*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
   
101.DEF*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
   
101.LAB*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
   
101.PRE*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
 
In accordance with SEC Release 33-8238, Exhibit 32.1 is being furnished and not filed.
 
Furnished herewith, XBLR (Extensive Business Reporting Language) information is furnished and not filed or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, is deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.
 
 
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SIGNATURES
 
In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
 

 
Dated: November 14, 2014   By: /s/ Alex Wang  
    Name: Alex Wang  
       
    Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer  
       
    (Co-Principal Executive Officer).  
 
 
 
 
 
Dated: November 14, 2014   By: /s/ Chuck Schillings  
   
Name: Chuck Schillings
 
       
    Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer  
       
   
(Co-Principal Executive Officer).
 
 
 
 
 
Dated: November 14, 2014
By:
/s/ Fung Chi Kwong  
   
Name: Fung Chi Kwong
 
       
   
Title: Chief Financial Officer
 
       
    (Principal Financial Officer)  
 
 
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