Santa Rosa, Calif., electric car manufacturer Zap will partner with China auto manufacturer Zhejiang Jonway Automobile Co. Ltd. to produce electric sport utility vehicles, cars and other electric vehicles in China for domestic and global distribution, Zap said Jan. 21.
The agreement with Jonway is part of a multiphase business plan Zap is implementing to target the China electric vehicle market. Zap selected Jonway as a partner partly because the company produced one of the first vehicles made in China to meet international quality standards.
Based in Taizhou, China, Jonway markets and sells vehicles in China through a network of more than 600 auto dealerships. Jonway has the capacity to produce up to 50,000 vehicles per year at its facilities in Taizhou but has the capacity and government support to expand if necessary, according to Zap.
ZAP and Jonway plan to sell a five-door SUV powered by AC propulsion and lithium battery system technologies in China. Jonway currently manufactures several thousand units per month of the SUV in three- and five-door models and is expanding its product line with new model sedans and other automobiles.
Under their agreement, the companies will integrate Zap's electric drive systems into the re-engineered SUP produced by Jonway. ZAP will perform research and development of the core technology in Santa Rosa and license the technology.
ZAP and Jonway plan to market and sell electric vehicles in China, North America and Europe.
ZAP plans to leverage stimulus funds for plug-in forms of transportation from the Chinese government.
