XML 19 R9.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.4.0.3
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES [Abstract]  
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
NOTE - 3 SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
Basis of Presentation and Consolidation
 
 The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of ZAP, and its subsidiaries, Jonway Auto and ZAP Hong Kong for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and the year ended December 31, 2015 and are prepared in accordance with United States (“U.S.”) generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Management considers subsidiaries to be companies that are over 50% controlled. Significant intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation; profits from intercompany sales, are also eliminated; non-controlling interests are included in equity.  We account for our 37.5% interest in the ZAP Hangzhou and our 50% interest in Shanghai Zapple using the equity method of accounting because we have significant influence but not control. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary for a fair presentation of the financial statements have been included. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full year. The information included in this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with information included in the 2015 annual report on Form 10-K filed on April 14, 2016.

Use of Estimates
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. The more significant estimates relate to revenue recognition, contractual allowances and uncollectible accounts, intangible assets, accrued liabilities, warranty costs, stock based compensation, income taxes, litigation and contingencies. Estimates are based on historical experience and on various other assumptions that the Company believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for judgments about results and the carrying values of assets and liabilities. Actual results and values may differ significantly from these estimates.

Revenue Recognition
 
The Company records revenues for non-Jonway Auto sales when all of the following criteria have been met:
 
 
-
Persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists. The Company generally relies upon sales contracts or agreements, and customer purchase orders to determine the existence of an arrangement.

 
-
Sales price is fixed or determinable. The Company assesses whether the sales price is fixed or determinable based on the payment terms and whether the sales price is subject to refund or adjustment. 

 
-
Delivery has occurred. The Company uses shipping terms and related documents, or written evidence of customer acceptance, when applicable, to verify delivery or performance. The Company's customary shipping terms are FOB shipping point.

 
-
Collectability is reasonably assured.  The Company assesses collectability based on creditworthiness of customers as determined by our credit checks and their payment histories. The Company records accounts receivable net of allowance for doubtful accounts and estimated customer returns.

 The Company records revenues for Jonway Auto sales only upon the occurrence of all of the following conditions:
 
 
-
The Company has received a binding purchase order from the customer or distributor authorized by a representative empowered to commit the purchaser (evidence of a sale);

 
-
The purchase price has been fixed, based on the terms of the purchase order;

 
-
The Company has delivered the product from its factory to a common carrier acceptable to the customer; and

 
-
The Company deems the collection of the amount invoiced probable.

The Company provides no price protection. Sales are recognized net of sale discounts, rebates and return allowances.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 820, “Fair Value Measurements” and ASC 825, Financial Instruments, requires an entity to use observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. It establishes a fair value hierarchy based on the level of independent, objective evidence surrounding the inputs used fair value. A financial instrument's categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. It prioritizes the inputs into three levels that may be used to measure fair value:

Level 1:
Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets;

Level 2:
Inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that is directly or indirectly observable. The carrying value of the senior convertible debt (see Note 7), which approximates fair value, is influenced by interest rates and our stock price, and is determined by prices for the convertible debts observed in market trading, which are Level 2 inputs.

Level 3:
Unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions and methodologies that result in management's best estimate of fair value.

Foreign Currency Translation
 
The Company and its wholly owned subsidiary/investments, maintain their accounting records in United States Dollars (“US$”) whereas Jonway Auto maintains its accounting records in the currency of Renminbi (“RMB”), being the primary currency of the economic environment in which their operations are conducted.

Jonway Auto's principal country of operations is the PRC. The financial position and results of our operations are determined using RMB, the local currency, as the functional currency.  The results of operations and the statement of cash flows denominated in foreign currency are translated at the average rate of exchange during the reporting period.  Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the balance sheet date are translated at the applicable rates of exchange in effect at that date.  The equity denominated in the functional currency is translated at the historical rate of exchange at the time of capital contribution.  Due to the fact that cash flows are translated based on the average translation rate, amounts related to assets and liabilities reported on the statement of cash flows will not necessarily agree with changes in the corresponding balances on the balance sheet.  Translation adjustments arising from the use of different exchange rates from period to period are included as a component of stockholder's equity as “Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.”

The value of RMB against US$ and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in China's political and economic conditions, any significant revaluation of RMB may materially affect our financial condition in terms of US$ reporting.  The following table outlines the currency exchange rates that were used in creating the condensed consolidated financial statements in this report:
 
 
March 31, 2016
March 31, 2015
December 31, 2015
       
Balance sheet items, except for share capital, additional
   paid in capital and retained earnings
1=RMB 6.4494
1=RMB6.1206
$1=RMB6.4917
       
Amounts included in the statements of operations
   and cash flows
1=RMB 6.5402
1=RMB 6.1444
$1=RMB 6.2288

Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, “Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities,” which amends certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. Changes to the current guidance include the accounting for equity investments, the presentation and disclosure requirements for financial instruments, and the assessment of valuation allowance on deferred tax assets related to available-for-sale securities. In addition, ASU 2016-01 establishes an incremental recognition and disclosure requirement related to the presentation of fair value changes of financial liabilities for which the fair value option has been elected. Under this guidance, an entity would be required to separately present in other comprehensive income the portion of the total fair value change attributable to instrument-specific credit risk as opposed to reflecting the entire amount in earnings. ASU 2016-01 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and upon adoption, an entity should apply the amendments by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to the balance sheet at the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective. Early adoption is not permitted except for the provision to record fair value changes for financial liabilities under the fair value option resulting from instrument-specific credit risk in other comprehensive income. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adoption on our consolidated financial statements.
 
In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 842 (“ASC 842”), “Leases” which replaces the existing guidance in ASC 840, Leases.  ASC 842 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018. ASC 842 requires a dual approach for lessee accounting under which a lessee would account for leases as finance leases or operating leases. Both finance leases and operating leases will result in the lessee recognizing a right-of-use (ROU) asset and a corresponding lease liability. For finance leases the lessee would recognize interest expense and amortization of the ROU asset and for operating leases the lessee would recognize a straight-line total lease expense.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adoption on the consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-06, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Contingent Put and Call Options in Debt Instruments. The amendments apply to all entities that are issuers of or investors in debt instruments (or hybrid financial instruments that are determined to have a debt host) with embedded call (put) options. The amendments clarify what steps are required when assessing whether the economic characteristics and risks of call (put) options are clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics and risks of their debt hosts, which is one of the criteria for bifurcating an embedded derivative. Consequently, when a call (put) option is contingently exercisable, an entity does not have to assess whether the event that triggers the ability to exercise a call (put) option is related to interest rates or credit risks. Public business entities must apply the new requirements for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within those fiscal years. All entities have the option of adopting the new requirements early, including adoption in an interim period. If an entity early adopts the new requirements in an interim period, it must reflect any adjustments as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period. The Company does not expect any material impact of this new standard on its consolidated financial statements.

In April 2016, the FASB released ASU 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. The ASU includes multiple provisions intended to simplify various aspects of the accounting for share-based payments. While aimed at reducing the cost and complexity of the accounting for share-based payments, the amendments are expected to significantly impact net income, EPS, and the statement of cash flows. Implementation and administration may present challenges for companies with significant share-based payment activities. The ASU is effective for public companies in annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those years. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new standard on its consolidated financial statements.
 
In April 2016, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing. The amendments clarify the following two aspects of Topic 606: (a) identifying performance obligations; and (b) the licensing implementation guidance. The amendments do not change the core principle of the guidance in Topic 606. The effective date and transition requirements for the amendments are the same as the effective date and transition requirements in Topic 606. Public entities should apply the amendments for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods therein (i.e., January 1, 2018, for a calendar year entity). Early application for public entities is permitted only as of annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new standard on its consolidated financial statements.