CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Consolidated Statements Of Operations And Comprehensive Loss [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 50,281	$ 56,237
Cost of goods sold	48,656	51,777
Gross profit	1,625	4,460
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing	10,658	12,303
General and administrative	10,853	13,171
Research and development	2,510	7,259
Recall Expenses	2,064
Impairment loss of long-lived assets	2,560
Total operating expenses	28,645	32,733
Loss from operations	(27,020)	(28,273)
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net	(2,950)	(18,812)
Loss from equity investment in Joint Venture	(391)	(328)
Loss on sale of marketable securities	(871)	(367)
Other income (expense), net	351	2,213
Total other income (expense)	(3,861)	(17,294)
Loss before income taxes	(30,881)	(45,567)
Income tax benefit (expense)	(282)	145
Net loss	(31,163)	(45,422)
Less: net loss attributable to non controlling interest	9,338	4,625
Net loss attributable to Zap common shareholders	(21,825)	(40,797)
Other Comprehensive income/(loss)
Foreign currency translation gain	(61)	2,394
Net unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities		(57)
Other comprehensive income/( loss)	(61)	2,337
Total Comprehensive loss	(31,224)	(43,085)
Comprehensive loss attributable to non controlling interest	(9,370)	(3,452)
Comprehensive loss attributable to ZAP common shareholders	$ (21,854)	$ (39,633)
Net loss per share attributable to common shareholders:
Basic and diluted	$ (0.07)	$ (0.19)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic and diluted	299,647	213,935