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LITIGATION
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
LITIGATION [Abstract]  
LITIGATION
NOTE 10- LITIGATION
 
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.

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.  A public hearing was held in Washington DC on October 9, 2012 that allowed the DOT to take comments from the public and from their inside officers for consideration in their determination of whether ZAP has made a reasonable effort to 1) notify dealers and purchasers of the brake recall and 2) provide a remedy to the public to correct the brake problem.    There were recommendations at the public hearing  from DOT staff testifying at the hearing that ZAP should be subject to penalties and be required to repurchase the MY 2008 Xebra vehicles.   ZAP has contracted with an independent testing facility to test the remedy that ZAP believes will correct the stopping distance problem, the duel brake fluid reservoir with correct labeling and other miscellaneous non- compliance issues.
 
On November 16, 2012 ZAP received notification from the Office of Chief Counsel of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ("NHTSA") containing Findings, Conclusions, and Order on ZAP's Failure to Reasonably Meet its Recall Remedy and Notification Requirements ("Order"), dated November 13, 2012, related to the recall of ZAP's model year 2008 Xebra, an electric three-wheeled motor vehicle with an enclosed sedan or truck body style.
 
NHTSA determined that ZAP had not reasonably met its recall remedy and notification requirements and was ordered to remedy the model year 2008 Xebra by, among other things, refunding the purchase price, less reasonable allowance for depreciation, providing notice of this refund remedy to model year 2008 Xebra owners, purchasers, and dealers, and picking up and disposing of each recalled vehicle at ZAP's sole expense. NHTSA determined that the average market price of a model year 2008 Xebra as of October 12, 2012 to be $3,100.  The order stated a total of 691 model year 2008 Xebra vehicles are subject to this remedy.  ZAP's internal records indicate that 691 vehicles were imported into the U.S. by ZAP, of which 627 were shipped to customers located in the U.S.
 
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 March 25, 2014 ZAP had received 318 refund requests of which 311 were deemed eligible
 
Per the terms of the Consent Decree, ZAP was to repurchase the vehicles of all eligible owners who requested a refund by no later than December 31, 2013 or 30 days after an eligible owner's refund request, whichever is later.   The Company did not repurchase any owner vehicles by December 31, 2013.  ZAP began repurchasing vehicles in March, 2014.
 
On April 7, 2014, ZAP and the United States who entered into an agreement to amend the Consent Decree wherein ZAP agreed to repurchase the vehicles of all eligible owners by no later than April 30, 2014.
 
On April 30, 2014, ZAP reported to NHTSA that the Company increased the number of vehicle owners it deemed eligible for a refund from 311 to 315 and that ZAP had either delivered or mailed full refund checks to 314 vehicle owners. The remaining vehicle owner requested the check be hand delivered on May 2, 2014 and received payment on that day.
 
Per the terms of the Consent Decree, ZAP has 30 days after it issues a refund to arrange for the pick up of a vehicle. As of May 12, 2014 the Company has picked up 263 vehicles and it plans on picking up remaining vehicles within the 30 day time frame.  As of May 10, 2014 all payments have been remitted.
 
       The Company has accrued for estimated expenses related to the above claims.