Schwarzenegger applauds ZAP & Chinese Youngman deal

Shanghai. October 9 (Gasgoo.com) – California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a former movie star from Hollywood, has met with Pang Qingnian, president of Chinese bus maker Youngman during his week-long trip to China last week.

"It will be a great achievement for American and Chinese partnership companies to develop and produce electric cars that generates no pollution and saves nonrenewable oil resources. In the name of the state of California, and myself as a private individual, I give my full support to your efforts," said Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Schwarzenegger in his visit to Youngman Auto

After the talks, Schwarzenegger visited Youngman’s production facilities and products in Jinhua, Zhejiang province.

The governor indicated that his state welcomes Youngman to deliver buses, trucks and sedans or CKD vehicles to California.

Prior to Governor Schwarzenegger’s visit,  American electric car pioneer ZAP and Youngman Automotive Group, had signed a joint venture agreement to manufacture, market and distribute electric and hybrid vehicles for the passenger car, truck and bus markets. The new joint venture company will also focus on the development and manufacturing of electric charging infrastructure.

The wide-ranging deal includes the manufacture of buses, trucks and passenger vehicles, including the Zap-X crossover SUV.

The move effectively gives Zap a mammoth test bed for developing electric vehicles, and the critical infrastructure needed to support it before it can become a mainstream alternative in developed automotive markets like the United States and Europe, local American media said.

China's Youngman is now a private holding company with 12 subsidiaries. Youngman's partnership with Germany's NEOPLAN controls more than 70 percent of the luxury motor coach market in China.

The company's portfolio of products includes luxury motor coaches, inter-urban, city and airport buses as well as premium commercial trucks for long distance, local distribution, heavy-duty building and special services.

American electric car pioneer ZAP (Zero Airo Pollution) distributes electric scooters, ATVs, motorcycles, cars, trucks worldwide. Based in Santa Rosa, California, USA, the company has marketed and sold 100,000 electric vehicles since 1994.