plus 2, Does Zap! have an electric SUV up its sleeve? - autoblog

Does Zap! have an electric SUV up its sleeve? - autoblog
Victory Motorcycles Launches "True American Road Trip" - The Auto Chanel
Mercer Sheriff – Jan. 9-13, 2010 - Bluefield Daily Telegraph

Does Zap! have an electric SUV up its sleeve? - autoblog

Posted: 23 Jan 2010 06:26 AM PST

PRESS RELEASE

ZAP, Jonway Partner to Target China Electric SUV Market

Companies Agree to Develop, Manufacture and Market Electric Compact SUVs and Other Vehicles in China for Worldwide Distribution

US electric vehicle pioneer ZAP (OTCBB: ZAAP) and China auto manufacturer Zhejiang Jonway Automobile Co. Ltd. announced a commercial agreement to produce electric sport utility vehicles (SUVs), cars and other electric vehicles in China for domestic and global distribution.

ZAP and Jonway partnered on the production of the 5-door Jonway A380 SUV, integrating the latest AC propulsion and lithium battery system technologies to produce a high performance mid-range electric vehicle (EV) that ZAP intends to offer to the fleet market in China. Jonway currently manufactures several thousand units per month of its A380 compact SUV in 3- and 5-door models and is expanding its product line with new model sedans and other automobiles.

The agreement with Jonway is part of a multi-phase business plan ZAP is implementing to target the China electric vehicle market. ZAP chose the Jonway partnership in part because last year Jonway produced one of the first vehicles made in China to meet international standards of quality, including ISO 9000, China Compulsory Certification (CCC) and most recently passing certification for import to the European Union. The Taizhou-based automaker markets and sells vehicles in China through a network of over 600 auto dealerships. Jonway has the capacity to produce up to 50,000 vehicles per year currently at its facilities in Taizhou with capacity and support from the government to expand as the business scales.

ZAP and Jonway believe the partnership will leverage ZAP's long-standing history in electric vehicles, experience in systems integration and worldwide sales for a broad range of EVs. Under the exclusive agreement, ZAP and Jonway take the electric drive systems designed by ZAP and integrate them into the reengineered EV SUV that will be produced by Jonway. ZAP will perform research and development of the core technology in Santa Rosa, California and license the technology for this partnership. ZAP and Jonway will jointly market and sell electric vehicles in China, North America and Europe to broaden market reach.

In 2009, China overtook the United States as the world's largest automobile market with sales increasing 46 percent from 2008 to 13.6 million vehicles in 2009, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

ZAP hopes to leverage a stimulus from the government for plug-in forms of transportation. The Chinese State Council General Office announced that it intends to raise its annual production capacity to 500,000 all-electric cars, hybrids and buses by the end of 2011. To stimulate the growth, China's Economic Construction Department has put in place a 60,000 RMB, approximately US$8,800, manufacturers subsidy per electric vehicle produced and sold in China.

About Jonway

Jonway is the trade name of Zhejiang Jonway Automobile Co., Ltd., an automobile manufacturer based in Taizhou, Zhejiang, China that currently produces two SUV models, the A380 3-door and the A380 5-door configurations. Zhejiang Jonway Auto is a subsidiary of Jonway Group, which has been a leader in the manufacturing of motorcycles, ATVs and related products for more than 20 years. In 2009, the Company sold more than 120,000 vehicles internationally in the European Union and the United States and has a capacity to build up to 400,000 vehicles annually. The Company recently began producing electric motorcycles and related vehicles. Jonway Group and its subsidiaries also produce motor parts, light building materials, air-compressors and plastic components while managing a portfolio of real estate holdings. Jonway Group owns several manufacturing subsidiaries throughout China with a total manufacturing space of 57.3 hectares employing more than 1,000 personnel.

About ZAP

ZAP is one of the world's oldest electric vehicle providers, having delivered over 117,000 of a broad range of vehicles to more than 75 countries since 1994. ZAP supplies electric trucks and vans to military, government and corporate fleets and is an innovator of electric motorcycles, scooters and ATVs. The Santa Rosa, California based company offers some of the only electric city-speed cars and trucks in production today and is leveraging its accrued technology know-how in developing a cost effective high-speed electric car called the ZAP Alias. For further information visit http://www.zapworld.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

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

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Victory Motorcycles Launches "True American Road Trip" - The Auto Chanel

Posted: 22 Jan 2010 08:10 PM PST

MEDINA, Minn.--Today Victory Motorcycles kick-started the True American Road Trip on the floor of the International Motorcycle Show (IMS) at New York City's Javits Center. The program collects short videos documenting a rider's idea of the best motorcycle road trip in America.

"Victory understands the power of a great ride on a great bike. This program allows us to help 10 people fuel their passion with the open road, providing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share their passion with vast online audiences."

Victory Motorcycles will select 10 riders to plan and execute monthly road trips atop one of two new touring motorcycles, the Victory Cross Country™ or Victory Cross Roads™, and document the trip through a variety of online channels. Collection of entries for the True American Road Trip began immediately on the floor of IMS after Victory opened its video booth to consumers, who gathered along with media as Josh Kurcinka, Victory's marketing manager, announced the specifics of the program.

"The True American Road Trip program is a perfect example of the unique relationship Victory Motorcycles shares with motorcycle riders across the country," said Kurcinka. "Victory understands the power of a great ride on a great bike. This program allows us to help 10 people fuel their passion with the open road, providing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share their passion with vast online audiences."

Entries for the True American Road Trip are being accepted until March 31, 2010. Anyone with a motorcycle license is welcome to submit their video, either by attending IMS in New York City or Minneapolis and recording their entry in Victory's video booth or by recording their own entry and submitting it online at http://www.trueamericanroadtrip.com.

Teaming with industry media and bike designers, Victory Motorcycles will choose 10 entries to take their ideas to the asphalt. Providing each with a Victory Cross Country™ or Victory Cross Roads™, touring motorcycles that fit into Victory's reputation in the industry for creating class-leading bikes based on creative styling and innovative engineering, Victory will challenge riders to document monthly road trips using text, still photos and videos to record each adventure. A multimedia collection will be featured at www.trueamericanroadtrip.com. The site will hold updates from each road trip as well as utilize online channels such as YouTube and Flickr to show what riders regard as the top motorcycle road trips America has to offer. Riders will detail whatever they find important – the scenery, the stops, the people involved or the road itself – along with the route traveled. Motorcycle enthusiasts, as well as those sharing the passion for the open road lifestyle, will be able to read, view and watch the multimedia accounts of the road trips, hopefully not only providing ideas for trips but inspiring all riders to create their own.

For more information, visit http://www.trueamericanroadtrip.com.

About Polaris

With annual 2008 sales of $1.9 billion, Polaris designs, engineers, manufactures and markets off-road vehicles (ORVs), including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and the Polaris RANGER™, snowmobiles and Victory motorcycles for recreational and utility use.

Polaris is a recognized leader in the snowmobile industry, and one of the largest manufacturers of ORVs in the world. Victory Motorcycles, established in 1998 and representing the first all-new American-made motorcycle from a major company in nearly 60 years, is rapidly making impressive in-roads into the cruiser and touring motorcycle marketplace. Polaris also enhances the riding experience with a complete line of Pure Polaris apparel, accessories and parts, available at Polaris dealerships.

Polaris Industries Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "PII," and the Company is included in the S&P Small-Cap 600 stock price index.

Information about the complete line of Polaris products, apparel and vehicle accessories, is available from authorized Polaris dealers or anytime from the Polaris homepage at www.polarisindustries.com.

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Mercer Sheriff – Jan. 9-13, 2010 - Bluefield Daily Telegraph

Posted: 20 Jan 2010 01:53 PM PST

Published: January 20, 2010 04:49 pm

Mercer Sheriff – Jan. 9-13, 2010

Bluefield Daily Telegraph

MERCER SHERIFF

Jan. 9

• DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY: Dep. G.C. Paitsel and Dep. A.M. Ballard responded to Auto Lane in Gardner Estates, where a complainant advised he and a neighbor were holding a possible prowler at gunpoint. When officers arrived, they instructed all three parties to lie face-down on the ground and cuffed them all for officer safety. The complainant alleged he awoke to hear someone yelling and beating on his front door. He looked outside and reportedly saw the suspect beating on his car window. He reported calling the neighbor, and the two residents confronted the suspect. While officers talked with the two complainants, the alleged suspect reportedly yelled, cursed and threatened the officers. Cody James Yates, 22, of North Tazewell and Princeton, allegedly smelled of alcohol and offered statements that made little sense. He was charged with destruction of property, disorderly conduct and public intoxication.

• BREAKING AND ENTERING (AUTO): Dep. J.R. Coburn responded to a breaking-and-entering complaint involving a vehicle on Warden Avenue. The complainant advised the passenger side window of his car was broken and that his wife's purse was missing. The officer did not locate any footprints in the snow or speak with neighbors, due to the time at which the crime was reported.

Jan. 10

• DUI: Dep. A.M. Ballard and Dep. G.C. Paitsel responded to Lorton Lick Road, where a caller reported someone trying to steal two ATVs. Ballard reported seeing a subject traveling east on an ATV toward downtown Montcalm with an inoperable. Paitsel followed fresh ATV tracks in the snow onto Simmons River Road and up the hill to Montcalm High School. Officers located a subject on an ATV, who denied traveling where Ballard saw the previous subject. He allegedly reported having two beers earlier in the day and reportedly smelled strongly of alcohol. When Bryon Keith Hale, 29, of Bluefield, allegedly failed a field sobriety test and registered over the legal alcohol limit, he was taken into custody and transported to Bluefield Police Department for holding.

Jan. 11

• POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DELIVER: Sgt. S.J. Cary reported seeing a black Honda Civic heading north in Kegley without a valid motor vehicle inspection sticker. The officer followed the vehicle, seeing it turn left onto West Virginia Route 10. Cary initiated a traffic stop and reported a strong smell of marijuana coming from the car. A search of the driver reportedly revealed pink pills determined not to be a controlled substance, but the 15-year-old passenger was allegedly concealing a container of marijuana in the waistband of his pants. A second container carrying traces of marijuana was also allegedly recovered. Joseph Allen Hall Jr., 19, of Lashmeet, and the juvenile were taken into custody. Hall was placed in jail to await arraignment. The juvenile was released to his parents' custody.

• DOMESTIC BATTERY: Dep. W.E. Rose responded to Harry Street in Bluefield, where a complainant reported her husband had struck her in the face several times during an argument. Zachary Noel Howington, 24, of Bluefield, was arrested.

• BURGLARY: Dep. M.S. Horn responded an apartment on Warden Avenue, where a complainant reported he had left his apartment unlocked earlier in the day and returned to find his clothes in disarray and a Nintendo Wii game system missing. The complainant reported other items, including two pillowcases were missing. The officer reported he believed the suspect used the pillowcases to remove items from the home.

• GRAND LARCENY: Dep. E.P. Parks responded to Stony Ridge Road, where a complainant reported someone entered a home through a window in a child's bedroom and removed PlayStation and Wii game systems, along with various games and a pair of earrings. Parks examined the scene and located footprints in the snow that appeared to be from a suspect wearing size 9-10 shoe. The case was forwarded to the detective bureau.

Jan. 12

• BURGLARY, GRAND LARCENY: Sgt. S.J. Cary reported to Pam's House of Hair on Country Girl Road. A complainant there reported someone entered her apartment forcibly and removed a 50-inch, flat-screen TV. While at the scene, Cary received word that the complainant was wanted on a warrant in Bluefield, Va. Shawna Dunn, 18, of Princeton, was arrested.

• DOMESTIC BATTERY: Dep. M.S. Horn arrested Jimmy Ray Kelly Jr., 34, of Bluefield, when he turned himself in on a domestic battery warrant.

• TRESPASSING, PETIT LARCENY: Dep. M.S. Horn arrested William Albert Palmer, 44, of Wolfe, when he turned himself in on warrants for the listed charges.

Jan. 13

• OBSTRUCTING: Dep. J.D. Ellison arrested Amanda West, 28, of Princeton, on a warrant that alleged obstruction.