ZAP Names Health Media Professional and Marketing Entrepreneur Dr. Charles Gross to Advisory Board of Directors; Prominent Los Angeles Area Television and Radio Host Also Chaired Statewide Health Initiatives
SANTA ROSA, Calif.--April 21, 2005--ZAP (OTCBB:ZAPZ), pioneering the next generation of advanced transportation and energy technologies, announced today that Dr. Charles Gross, a prominent Los Angeles area businessman, health-oriented media figure and entrepreneur, has been named to the ZAP Advisory Board of Directors. Steve Schneider, CEO of ZAP, made the announcement.As part of the Advisory Board of Directors, Dr. Gross will assist ZAP's marketing and business development efforts across all areas of the Company's advanced technologies and products, including the high-efficiency Smart Car microcoupe. ZAP recently announced that it had received federal regulatory approval to sell the German-made Smart Car in the U.S., and that dealer orders for the Americanized version of the car have exceeded three-quarters of a billion dollars.
"The Management at ZAP is delighted that Dr. Gross has joined our Advisory Board," said Mr. Schneider. "Dr. Gross brings a wealth of experience and insight in marketing and technology that we believe will greatly benefit ZAP as we deliver and expand our pipeline of advanced energy and transportation products, such as the Smart Car Americanized by ZAP. Dr. Gross originally approached us several months ago with several powerful and creative ideas for our company. After talking for only a short time, we realized we held many shared interests and a similar vision for the many great possibilities now facing ZAP."
Dr. Gross is a veteran media entrepreneur with an extensive background in marketing and business promotion, and has a history of community and statewide public health activism. Additionally, he has had a successful career as an orthodontist and doctor of dental surgery. He was President of the San Fernando Valley Dental Society, where he organized and directed numerous promotional activities throughout the greater Los Angeles area. Dr. Gross hosted a weekly radio show on KCSN in Los Angeles for more than four years; he produced and hosted a daily Los Angeles cable television program, "Looking Good, Feeling Good," for 10 years, in which he marketed and promoted high-value medical, dental and pharmaceutical care. Dr. Gross was Chairman of National Children's Dental Health Week for the State of California. He holds a Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree from the University of Illinois, and a Master's Degree from the Columbia University School of Orthodontics.
"ZAP is a visionary company whose cutting-edge products and keen sense of the needs of the marketplace make it a particularly exciting organization to be affiliated with right now," said Dr. Gross. "Throughout my professional life, I have focused on emerging technologies and scientific advances that can have a positive impact on people in my community and around the world. ZAP has an impressive record of delivering important and exciting products, such as advanced transportation vehicles. The Smart Car Americanized by ZAP, for example, is arriving at a time when it is critical that industry provide more efficient and less polluting transportation. It's a great time to be associated with the talented people at ZAP."
Dr. Gross' three children are also well-known in the high-technology business world for their professional and academic achievements. Son Bill Gross is Chairman and CEO of Idealab, a highly-regarded and successful incubator of advanced technology companies. Larry Gross was Vice-Chairman of Idealab and President of education software company Knowledge Adventure, and a principal in Cendant Software. Daughter Marcee Kleinman was a former officer of Idealab, and is currently Vice President of Operations at Renal Touch.
About ZAP
ZAP, Zero Air Pollution(R), has been a leader in advanced transportation technologies and energy products since 1994. ZAP serves the multibillion-dollar markets for next-generation transportation and power products through three divisions: ZAP Automotive, ZAP Personal Transportation and ZAP Energy. The Company has delivered more than 90,000 fuel-efficient and pollution-free vehicles powered by gasoline, electric, hydrogen and other fuels to customers in more than 75 countries around the world.
ZAP owns the technology developed by Smart-Automobile LLC to Americanize the popular European-made Smart Car, a high-efficiency gas vehicle, for the U.S. marketplace. ZAP Americanizes the Smart Car to meet U.S. federal and state safety and emissions standards. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation have approved a Smart Car model Americanized by ZAP for domestic use in 45 U.S. states. ZAP is not affiliated with, or authorized by, smart gmbh, the manufacturer of SMART automobiles, or the smartUSA division of Mercedes-Benz LLC, the exclusive authorized U.S. importer and distributor of those vehicles. The Smart Car is manufactured by global automotive company DaimlerChrysler. ZAP purchases its vehicles from non-affiliated direct importer Smart-Automobile LLC.
The Company's all-electric vehicles include the ZAP Intimidator L.U.V. and ZAP Worldcar neighborhood and urban electric cars, ZAPPY(R) Scooters, Mobility Scooters, Bikes and All Terrain Vehicles (ATV). These products offer convenient, dependable and fun transportation that's heavy duty, powerful and noise free. The ZAP Portable Energy division has developed a next-generation, multi-use battery for electronic products that delivers up to four times the power of typical batteries to charge or power a variety of devices, including cell phones, digital cameras, DVD and MP3 players, camcorders, and laptops. For more information, visit http://www.zapworld.com. For investor-specific information, including daily and historical Company stock quote data and recent news releases, visit http://www.trilogy-capital.com/tcp/zap. To read or download the Company's Investor Fact Sheet visit http://www.trilogy-capital.com/tcp/zap/factsheet.html. For recent news coverage of ZAP, visit http://www.trilogy-capital.com/tcp/zap/press.html. To view a video about ZAP, visit http://www.trilogy-capital.com/tcp/zap/video.html.
Cautionary Statement
Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, continued acceptance of the Company's products, increased levels of competition for the Company, new products and technological changes, the Company's dependence upon third-party suppliers, intellectual property rights, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.