ZAP Jonway Reports Third Quarter 2011 Financial Results

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (BUSINESS WIRE) -- November 15, 2011 -- ZAP Jonway (OTC BB: ZAAP), a designer and manufacturer of gasoline and new energy electric vehicles (EVs), reported financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011.

Dr. Priscilla Lu, Chairman of ZAP Jonway, stated: “As we began laying the foundation for growth, the past several months have been transformative for ZAP Jonway. ZAP’s acquisition of 51% of Jonway Auto in January of 2011 was the first step in our initiative to establish a combined company that features strong manufacturing capabilities, an established distribution platform and a 17-year history of EV innovation. More recently, we appointed Mr. Zhang Da Qi as General Manager at Jonway Auto who will provide key leadership in our sales expansion initiatives. Our new product roadmap reflects our adherence to market relevance by focusing on delivering a high-quality yet affordable new energy electric vehicle product line targeting the fleet market, applying the same principles that Jonway has with its gasoline vehicles.”

• WEBCAST - Click Here for a Transcript and Webcast of the Quarterly Conference Call

“As we expand our product line in 2012 to launch our EV models, we plan to develop new channels that address sales opportunities with institutions, governments and corporations while utilizing the established network of nationwide dealerships we already have in place for selling direct to consumers. Mr. Zhang Da Qi, with his extensive experience in the Chinese auto industry, will offer new product packages that are attractive to large volume buyers,” concluded Dr. Lu.

Recent Company Highlights

• Introduced first joint product roadmap for 2011/2012 featuring new traditional gasoline and new energy electric vehicle models.
• Extended warranty period demonstrates ZAP Jonway’s commitment to quality with its core engine technologies using the Mitsubishi gasoline drive train, thus leading the Chinese auto industry with an unprecedented five-year warranty for its automobiles manufactured in China.
• Expanded and relocated sales and customer support center to Hangzhou, a vibrant technology center in the Zhejiang Province of China, to be in close proximity to its new energy vehicle R&D center and to increase access to talent for expansion plans.
• Appointed Mr. Zhang Da Qi as General Manager of Jonway Auto to lead sales and operations initiatives, leveraging his 20 years of experience working with leading Chinese auto companies.

Benjamin Zhu, ZAP Jonway’s Chief Financial Officer, stated: “Our consolidated financial results for the three- and nine-months ended September 30, 2011 reflect the financial consolidation of ZAP and Jonway Automobile as a result of the majority acquisition completed in January of this year. ZAP’s financial results for the 2010 periods reflect only ZAP’s results on a standalone basis. The 2011 financial results are also demonstrative of the transition we have undertaken wherein we recorded several administration costs related to the acquisition. We are at the tail end of this process and can now begin to leverage and maximize the synergies between the two companies.”

Please note as the company acquired 51% of Jonway operations in January 2011. As such, when comparing year-to year the results of the consolidated financials this year of the combined companies, they increased compared to ZAP’s standalone financials from 2010.

Consolidated Financials for the Three Months Ended September 30: 2011 Compared to 2010

• Net sales were $14.1 million including $13.7 million contributed by Jonway, compared to $985,000.
• Gross profit was $2.1 million, including $2.0 million contributed by Jonway, or 15.2% of sales, compared to gross profit of $148,000, or 15.0% of sales.
• Operating expenses were $7.3 million including both $3.9 million related to Jonway and non-cash charges of $1.2 million related to quarterly amortization of distribution agreements for Jonway products and Better World’s charging stations and quarterly fees related to a management agreement between ZAP and Cathaya Capital. This compares to operating expenses of $1.9 million. The increase from Jonway was due primarily to increases in sales and marketing, general and administrative, and research and development related to the addition of Jonway and the integration of EV technology.
• Net loss was $8.9 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, compared to net loss of $2.3 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, including total comprehensive loss of $1.1 million contributed by Jonway.
• At September 30, 2011, cash and cash equivalents was $1.5 million.

Consolidated Financials for the Nine Months Ended September 30: 2011 Compared to 2010

• Net sales were $42.1 million including $40.0 million contributed by Jonway, compared to $2.7 million.
• Gross profit was $4.8 million including $4.3 million contributed by Jonway, or 11.3% of sales, compared to gross profit of $364,000, or 14.0% of sales.
• Operating expenses were $24.9 million, including $11.2 million related to Jonway and non-cash charges of $3.5 million related to amortization of distribution agreement for Jonway products and Better World’s charging stations and fees under a management agreement between ZAP and Cathaya Capital. This compares to operating expenses of $7.2 million. The increase from Jonway was due primarily to increases in sales and marketing, general and administrative, and research and development related to the addition of Jonway and the integration of EV technology.
• Net loss was $29.5 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, compared to net loss of $7.6 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, including total comprehensive loss of $3.1 million contributed by Jonway

Conference Call Information

ZAP Jonway’s management team will hold a conference call today, Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. PT / 4:30 p.m. ET (5:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 in China) to discuss its third quarter 2011 earnings results, review the quarterly activity and answer questions. Investors in the United States may participate in the call by dialing (877) 280-7473, and international participants may dial (1-707) 287-9370. The conference ID is 25418272 and participants are encouraged to dial 10 minutes prior to the call to prevent a delay in joining. A live webcast of the conference call is scheduled to be available on ZAP Jonway’s corporate site at http://www.zapworld.com/Investors. For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, a webcast replay of the call is scheduled to be available on the company’s corporate site for 90 days. A telephone replay of the call is also scheduled to be available through November 17, 2011. To listen to the telephone replay dial (855) 859-2056 or dial (1-404) 537-3406 outside the United States, and enter pass code 25418272.

About ZAP Jonway

ZAP Jonway combines the attributes of both companies, ZAP and Jonway Automobile, to design and manufacture quality, affordable gasoline and new energy electric vehicles (EVs). With Jonway Automobile’s established ISO 9000 manufacturing facilities, research and development and sales and customer services facilities in China, ZAP Jonway is well positioned to scale up production and sales for both gasoline and EVs for China and the international markets. ZAP, an early pioneer of EVs, brings to the new combined company a broad range of EV design experience that is being applied to new product lines. ZAP Jonway is focused on addressing EV fleets targeting city delivery trucks and vans used by university campuses, government and corporate markets in China and the United States, while utilizing its gasoline vehicle production quantities to gain economy of scale through its common vehicle parts and platforms. ZAP Jonway benefits from the established China dealership and customer support network developed by Jonway Automobile for its China sales and services. ZAP Jonway is headquartered in Santa Rosa, California and its production facility is located in Zhejiang Province of the People’s Republic of China. Additional information about ZAP Jonway is available at http://www.zapworld.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

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