Interview with Stacy Zoern
Stacy Zoern was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a form of Muscular Dystrophy, and has never walked. She is an attorney, practicing patent litigation, and a published author.
Disaboom: We understand that in addition to your successful law practice you started Community Cars, a company that is manufacturing electric cars for people in wheelchairs.
How did this come about?
Stacy: “I drove a modified van with $50,000 worth of modifications on it and I ended up totaling it when I was 19. I hit the curb and had a blow out. The impact of the accident affected the steering and became unsafe to drive, given my disability. I’m 31 now, and haven’t driven since. I’ve been dependent on others for transportation my entire adult life. All this time has passed and I thought, surely technology has improved. I got online one day to see what options I might have to drive again so I could gain some more independence. I came across this small electric vehicle that was perfect. I wanted it immediately, so I emailed the company but didn’t get a response. So I called and called, and finally got the owner of the company who was in Budapest, Hungary. We had this really great conversation until he said, ‘I’ve got bad news for you, we ran out of money. The bank that was supposed to fund the project pulled out when the economy crashed. But I’ll keep your name and call you. It will probably be a couple of years before the car is on the market.’
Disaboom: That must have been a huge disappointment for you.
Stacy: “It was, but after thinking about it for four days, I called him back and told him I wanted to help him raise the money here in the U.S. and I wanted to go into business with him.”
Disaboom: How long ago was that?
Stacy: “That was a year ago, March, 2010. We have since been able to secure investors, and we have finished the production prototype. We have suppliers lined up, and distribution contracts set up in Europe. We will definitely be assembling this year – I am hoping by the end of summer. Manufacturing will be in Pflugerville, TX, just north of Austin.”
Disaboom: What about this vehicle makes it so desirable?
Stacy: “It’s perfect for people in electric wheelchairs that have limited upper body strength. You drive the car with a joy stick, much like you drive your wheelchair. And it’s less expensive - the car is only $20,000. The van similar to the one I used to drive is $80,000.”
Disaboom: Why do you call it a community car?
Stacy: “Our vehicle isn’t for long distance driving, it’s for getting around in communities. For a lot of people, that’s more than they have right now. Many are dependent on their wheelchair and how far that will take them, which isn’t very far. Some people depend on public transportation if they are lucky enough to live in an area where they even have it. Even then, there are so many obstacles to using public transportation. Many times people can’t just grab a taxi, so this is really going to open up communities for them. Community car will allow people to get to work, to the grocery store, to schools, church, and to their friend’s house – places in their community.”
Disaboom: You mentioned that Community Cars will be manufactured in the U.S., but what about dealerships?
Stacy: “There will be dealers in the U.S. people we’re talking to right now – dealers for scooters, moped-type vehicles. That will be our distribution model in the U.S. And we definitely will be global, we already have 700 orders from Europe. Some of the first orders filled will be shipped overseas. “
Stacy Zoern was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a form of Muscular Dystrophy, and has never walked. She is an attorney, practicing patent litigation, and a published author. To learn more go to: www.communitycars.com
