SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of ZAP, and its subsidiaries, 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. The Company accounts for its 37.5% interest in the ZAP Hangzhou and its 50% interest in Shanghai Zapple using the equity method of accounting because it has 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, stock based compensation, 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 the Company’s 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 Accounting Standards Codification (“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 that are observable for the asset or liability in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable, and inputs derived from or corroborated by observable market data.

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.

The carrying value of current assets and liabilities approximate their fair values because of the short-term nature of these instruments. The carrying value of the senior convertible debt (see Note 8), which approximates fair value, is influenced by interest rates and the Company’s stock price, and is determined by prices for the convertible debts observed in market trading, which are Level 2 inputs.

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 the Company’s 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 the Company’s financial condition in terms of US$ reporting. The following table outlines the currency exchange rates that were used in creating the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in this report:

	September 30, 2016	September 30, 2015	December 31, 2015

Balance sheet items, except for share capital, additional paid in capital and retained earnings	$ 1=RMB 6.6702	$ 1=RMB6.3638	$1=RMB6.4917

Amounts included in the statements of operations and cash flows	$ 1=RMB 6.5802	$ 1=RMB6.1735	$1=RMB 6.2288

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016 15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, to provide guidance on the presentation and classification of certain cash receipts and cash payments on the statement of cash flows. The guidance specifically addresses cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the diversity in practice. The guidance will be effective for the Company in fiscal year 2018, but early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new standard on its unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016 16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra - Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory. The amendments require an entity to recognize income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs and remove the exception to postpone recognition until the asset has been sold to an outside party. The amendments are effective for public business entities for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within those annual reporting periods. For all other entities, the amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim reporting periods within annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new standard on its unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-17, Consolidation (Topic 810): Interest Held through Related Parties That Are under Common Control, to provide guidance on the evaluation of whether a reporting entity is the primary beneficiary of a VIE by amending how a reporting entity, that is a single decision maker of a VIE, treats indirect interests in that entity held through related parties that are under common control. The amendments are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. For all other entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new standard on its unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.