Air Car Shark Tank Update | What Happened to Air Car/ Zero Pollution Motors after Shark Tank
Air Car (Zero Pollution Motors) Shark Tank Update
Zero Pollution Motors (ZPM) is the U.S. licensee for Luxembourg-based MDI, the developer of the Air Car as a compression-based alternative to the internal combustion engine.
They got the rights to build one of the first of several modular plants in the United States to produce the air-powered vehicles branded ‘AIRPod’.
Zero Pollution Motors (Air Car) was founded in 2000 by Pat Boone and Ethan Tucker.
They had two decades of expertise in the industry and claim to be the first in the United States to produce an air-compressed car.
According to the entrepreneurs, these AIRPod could be manufactured in three distinct variants, each with a different number of seats and cargo storage while maintaining the same basic chassis.
It is designed to be a zero-emission city car and the Prototypes have been tested by KLM/AirFrance for use as emission-free vehicles in airports.
Production was expected to begin in mid-2019, according to Zero Pollution Motors.
What Happened to Air Car/ Zero Pollution Motors after Shark Tank Update
In May 2015, Zero Pollution Motors was featured on the US reality television show Shark Tank, where Robert Herjavec agreed to invest $5 million for a 50% stake in the company.
However, because the corporation did not own the rights across North America, the investment arrangement fell through.
The company’s website claims that manufacturing in Europe was to begin in the first quarter of 2018 and that order reservations are being accepted.
It also states that Zero Pollution Motors was to produce the first compressed air-powered car for sale in the United States by mid-2019.
Currently, Air Car seems to have shut down operations as productions did not start.
Who is Zero Pollution Motors?
Zero Pollution Motors is the US licensee to MDI, the Luxembourg-based company that developed the Air Car.
It is a company with a mission to help the environment by reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
They design, manufacture, and sell electric vehicles that are able to reduce our dependence on petroleum-based fuels.
Zero Pollution Motors was dedicated to making eco-friendly transportation available to everyone.
Their license designates them as an “air car dealer-manufacturer.”
They plan to create small, regional facilities around the United States to manufacture and sell the air automobile.
What is the AirPod?
AIRpod is a compressed-air vehicle in development by Motor Development International.
It was developed by MDI as the solution to urban pollution and urban mobility.
The AIRPod is had planned to be produced in three different configurations that will vary the number of seats and amount of cargo storage while keeping the same basic chassis.
The standard, which was shown on Shark Tank, seats 2-4 passengers.
When was Zero Pollution Motors founded?
Zero Pollution Motors (Air Car) was started in 2000 by Pat Boone and Ethan Tucker.
What is Ethan’s background?
Pat Boone began his career as a musician, whereas Ethan Tucker worked as an actor, producer, and playwright.
What was Ethan’s first project?
While residing in Vermont, Ethan embarked on a project that required him to write a movie about one of the renowned innovators, Nikola Tesla.
What was Zero Pollution Motors’ deal with investors?
The investor and automobile enthusiast Robert Herjavec, investors agreed to contribute $5 million in exchange for a 50% stake in the business.
What happened to the Zero Pollution Motors deal?
After the show, the deal fell through because the deal depended on receiving a design license to sell AIRPod in the United States.
What was the biggest challenge?
The Zero Pollution Motors didn’t own the rights across North America.
What are Zero Pollution Motors’ goals?
Zero Pollution Motors claims it is “poised to produce the first compressed air-powered car for sale in the United States by Q4 2017-Q1 2018.”
What is Zero Pollution Motors?
Zero Pollution Motors is among the US licensees for Luxembourg-based MDI and is the developer of air-powered vehicles, popularly known as AIRPod.
What was the motivation behind Ethan’s and Boone’s?
The drive behind Ethan’s and Boone’s ideas of producing eco-friendly cars was to create clean and no pollution locomotives to save the environment in the crowded cities of the US.
They hoped to make a significant impact in the world by eventually cutting the fossil fuels needed for transportation and completely eliminating tailpipe pollution.
What was Ethan’s background?
While residing in Vermont, Ethan worked on a project involving writing a screenplay about Nikola Tesla, one of the proclaimed inventors.
What happened to Zero Pollution Motors?
Zero Pollution Motors is currently out of business.
The company has a website where people may sign up for updates and be added to the “Air Car” waiting list.
Which Shark Tank Episode did the Zero Pollution Motors pitch take place?
Ethan Tucker pitches Zero Pollution Motors, the US licensee for Luxembourg-based MDI – developer of the Air Car, in Shark Tank episode 626.
How much does an Air Car cost to produce?
Each Air Car costs between $3700-$5100 to make and they sell for around $10,000.
What’s the deal with them?
DEAL with Robert for $5 million for 50% of Zero Pollution Motors contingent on getting rights to all of the US.
What’s the deal with Herjavec?
Legendary pop singer Pat Boone and entrepreneur Ethan Tucker were able to persuade investor Robert Herjavec to invest $5 million for a 50% ownership.
The deal with Robert never closed.
What makes zero pollution motors different?
Things were looking good for startup automaker Zero Pollution Motors and its compressed-air powered car, AIRPod.
What is the production schedule?
Zero Pollution Motors (ZPM) was poised to produce the first compressed air-powered car for sale in the United States by mid-2019.
ZPM has attained right to build one of the first of several modular plants in the United States to produce the air-powered vehicles branded ‘AIRPod’.
What were the company’s plans to open plants in Europe?
The company’s website promised that manufacturing in Europe will begin in the first quarter of 2018 and that order reservations would be accepted.
What was the cost of AirPod cars?
In September 2013, it was announced that the vehicle will be on sale in summer 2014, with a base model with a 100-kilometer range starting at 7000 Euros and a variant with a better engine that utilizes petrol in addition to compressed air, offering a 250-kilometer range for 8000 Euros.
What are the current construction plans for MDI’s new plant?
In March 2016, they posted images showing the construction of the forthcoming factory in Sardinia as “underway”.
Is Air Car (Zero Pollution Motors) Still in Business?
Zero Pollution Motors is no longer in operation. The firm is most known for its AIRPod, dubbed the “Air Car” since it is an environmentally friendly vehicle propelled by compressed air.
Originally, Air Car’s goal was to produce eco-friendly vehicles to compete with traditional gas-powered vehicles, but after some production delays and a change in plans they and was not fully operational.
Currently, Air Car seems to have shut down operations as productions did not start.
What is the pre-order policy?
As of September 2021, the website is still taking pre-orders.
What are the company’s plans for the future?
The company has a website where people may sign up for updates and be added to the “Air Car” waiting list.
