SMART Car Approved; Now Offered by ZAP
ZAP, the publicly owned Northern California company that made a name for itself over the past decade in the electric car, bike and scooter market, says it has received its first 100-unit block purchase order for the SMART car from a U.S. auto dealer.
The SMART car, a development of Daimler-Chrysler, debuted in Europe in 1998. SMART-Automobiles LLC is an independent, privately held company that oversees the direct importation and modification of automobiles to meet U.S. standards. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently issued a Letter of Conformity for the 60-MPG car, clearing the way for the importation of up to 15,000 units by Dec. 31, 2004.
ZAP has an exclusive distribution contract with SMART-Automobile LLC for the rights to sell the cars in the United States with a near-term goal of 150 dealer outlets by second quarter of fiscal year 2005.
The company unveiled the SMART to U.S. consumers last week at the San Francisco International Auto Show.
ZAP company officials say they are having discussions with “a number of government and corporate fleets as well as automotive wholesale dealers.” They say they won’t announce the name of participating dealers until the cars arrive at the retailer’s location and are ready to be sold.
Founded in 1984 and based in Sebastopol, Calif., ZAP is traded on the Over-the-Counter stock exchange under the symbol ZAPZ. The company offers a variety of advanced technology vehicles, including electric cars, bicycles, scooters, motorbikes, underwater scooters and more. For more information, visit www.zapworld.com or call 707/525-8658.
