JINHUA, China and SANTA ROSA, Calif. – U.S. electric car pioneer ZAP and China Youngman Automotive Group have announced they are reviving the 100-year-old electric car brand Detroit Electric for their automotive joint venture.

Detroit Electric officials look forward to bringing new vehicle technologies to market by 2009, and beyond that the possibility of bringing new manufacturing and green collar jobs to California.

Detroit Electric plans to introduce its first electric cars and buses in 2009.

The ZAP Alias, which is under development for the joint venture, will be one of several vehicles being planned to carry the Detroit Electric brand.

ZAP is planning a presentation on Detroit Electric for North American auto dealers at NADA 2008, the world's largest auto show for dealers. Learn more about the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) annual meeting and exhibition, February 9-12, 2008 in San Francisco.

Detroit Electric was an early 20th Century electric car, perhaps the most popular in history.

The Anderson Electric Car Company started building the cars under the Detroit Electric brand over 100 years ago.

Anderson of Detroit, Michigan is the longest running electric car company in history, operating between 1907 and 1939.

In its heyday, Detroit Electric was an American icon and the cars were very popular with customers like Thomas Edison, Charles Proteus Steinmetz, Henry Ford's Wife Clara, and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Detroit Electric plans to build a special edition electric vehicle based on the original Detroit Electric as a tribute for the new name of the joint venture.

While joint venture officials are reviving the Detroit Electric brand, the first offices and facilities are planned, not for Detroit, but California.

Management will be opening offices in California and evaluating manufacturing opportunities for economic development within the state.

"We see California as a launch pad. It is one of the most ready markets to adopt these new green vehicle solutions," said Detroit Electric Chairman Albert Lam. "The governor and his leadership here have created a fertile environment for us to create and grow. Many are talking about the future of the auto industry and Detroit Electric is a name that will speak to generations about the past and the future of automobiles."