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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING PRINICPLES
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING PRINICPLES
1.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING PRINICPLES

The following accounting principles and practices are set forth to facilitate the understanding of data presented in the financial statements:

Nature of operations
AMP Holding Inc., formerly known as Title Starts Online, Inc. (the Company), incorporated in the State of Nevada in 2007 with $3,100 of capital from the issuance of common shares to the founding shareholder. On August 11, 2008 the Company received a Notice of Effectiveness from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and on September 18, 2008, the Company closed a public offering in which it accepted subscriptions for an aggregate of 200,000 shares of its common stock, raising $50,000 less offering costs of $46,234. With this limited capital the Company did not commence operations and remained a “shell company” (as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended).

On December 28, 2009, the Company entered into and closed a Share Exchange Agreement with the Shareholders of Advanced Mechanical Products, Inc. (n/k/a AMP Electric Vehicles, Inc.) (AMP) pursuant to which the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding securities of AMP in exchange for 14,890,904 shares of the Company’s common stock. Considering that, following the merger, the AMP Shareholders control the majority of the outstanding voting common stock of the Company, and effectively succeeded the Company’s otherwise minimal operations to those that are AMP. AMP is considered the accounting acquirer in this reverse-merger transaction. A reverse-merger transaction is considered and accounted for as a capital transaction in substance; it is equivalent to the issuance of AMP securities for net monetary assets of the Company, which are deminimus, accompanied by a recapitalization. Accordingly, goodwill or other intangible assets have not been recognized in connection with this reverse merger transaction. AMP is the surviving entity and the historical financials following the reverse merger transaction will be those of AMP. The Company was a shell company immediately prior to the acquisition of AMP pursuant to the terms of the Share Exchange Agreement. As a result of such acquisition, the Company operations are now focused on the design, marketing and sale of modified automobiles with an all-electric power train and battery systems. Consequently, we believe that acquisition has caused the Company to cease to be a shell company as it now has operations. The Company formally changed its name to AMP Holding Inc. on May 24, 2010.

AMP, a development stage company, designs, sells and delivers modified automobiles with an all-electric drivetrain and battery system that allows the vehicle to perform just like a vehicle with an internal combustion engine, but with no emissions or burning of fossil fuels. Using its drivetrain system, the Company converts an existing vehicle to an all-electric vehicle instead of a vehicle that burns gasoline. AMP’s vision is to engineer electric drivetrains and to be a supplier and integrator for Crossover and SUV sized vehicles that are popular with both fleets and consumers. The largest vehicle segment in the U.S. is the SUV segment and AMP has one of the only electric full size SUV solutions available. This is due to AMP’s patent pending, powerful, yet highly efficient electric powertrain. Revenues since the inception of the Company, February 20, 2007, through the date of these financial statements have not been significant and consist of customer vehicle conversions and sales of converted vehicles.

Development stage company
Based on the Company's business plan, it is a development stage company since planned principal operations resulting in revenue have not fully commenced. Accordingly, the Company presents its financial statements in conformity with the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America that apply to developing enterprises. As a development stage enterprise, the Company discloses its retained earnings (or deficit accumulated) during the development stage and the cumulative statements of operations and cash flows from commencement of development stage to the current balance sheet date. The development stage began in 2007 when the Company was organized.

Basis of presentation
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and liquidation of liabilities in the normal course of business. However, the Company has limited revenues and has negative working capital and stockholders’ deficits. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern.

In view of these matters, continuation as a going concern is dependent upon the continued operations of the Company, which in turn is dependent upon the Company's ability to meet its financial requirements, raise additional capital, and the success of its future operations. The financial statements do not include any adjustments to the amount and classification of assets and liabilities that may be necessary should the Company not continue as a going concern.

The Company has continued to raise capital. Management believes the proceeds from these offerings, future offerings, and the Company’s anticipated revenue provides an opportunity to continue as a going concern. If additional funding is required, the Company plans to obtain working capital from either equity financing from the sale of common and/or preferred stock.

The accompanying unaudited financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Form 10-Q instructions and therefore, do not include information or footnotes necessary for a complete presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, however, in the opinion of management contain all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and accompanying notes included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Operating results for the six months ended June 30, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be attained in subsequent periods or for the year ending December 31, 2011.

Certain reclassifications were made to the prior year financial statements to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on previously reported results of operation or stockholders’ equity (deficit).

Financial instruments
The carrying amounts of financial instruments including cash, accounts receivable, inventory, cash overdraft, accounts payable and short-term debt approximate fair value because of the relatively short maturity of these instruments.

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include investments that are highly liquid, readily convertible to cash and with maturities of 90 days or less at the purchase date.

Inventory
Inventory, stated at cost, includes vehicles being converted for sale.

Property and depreciation
Property and equipment is recorded at cost. Major renewals and improvements are capitalized while replacements, maintenance and repairs, which do not improve or extend the lives of the respective assets, are expensed. When property and equipment is retired or otherwise disposed of, a gain or loss is realized for the difference between the net book value of the asset and the proceeds realized thereon. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method, based upon the following estimated useful lives:

Software: 6 years
Equipment: 5 years
Vehicles and prototypes: 3 - 5 years

Capital stock
On April 22, 2010 the directors of the Company approved a forward stock split of the common stock of the Company on a 14:1 basis. On May 12, 2010 the stockholders of the Company voted to approve the amendment of the certificate of incorporation resulting in a decrease of the number of shares of Common stock. The Company filed a 14c definitive information statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission and mailed the same to its shareholders. Management filed the certificate of amendment decreasing the authorized shares of common stock with the State of Nevada on September 8, 2010.

The capital stock of the Company is as follows:

Preferred Stock - The Company has authorized 75,000,000 shares of preferred stock with a par value of $.001 per share. These shares may be issued in series with such rights and preferences as may be determined by the Board of Directors. The Series A Stock is convertible, at any time at the option of the holder, into common shares of the Company based on a conversion price of $0.336 per share. The holders of the Series A Stock are not entitled to convert the Series A Stock and receive shares of common stock such that the number of shares of common stock held by them in the aggregate and their affiliates after such conversion or exercise does not exceed 4.99% of the then issued and outstanding shares of common stock. The Series A Stock has voting rights on an as converted basis, does not pay dividends, and does not provide any liquidation rights.

Common Stock - The Company has authorized 250,000,000 shares of common stock with a par value of $.001 per share.

Revenue recognition / customer deposits
It is the Company's policy that revenues will be recognized in accordance with SEC Staff Bulletin (SAB) No. 104, "Revenue Recognition". Under SAB 104, product revenues (or service revenues) are recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred (or service has been performed), the sales price is fixed and determinable, and collectability is reasonably assured. Customer deposits include monies from customers to reserve a production slot for conversion of an OEM power train to the AMP all electric power train. The final retail price and delivery date are yet to be determined. Customer deposits are subject to a full refund at the request of the customer.

Advertising
Advertising and public relation costs are charged to operations when incurred. Advertising and public relation expense was approximately $82,000 and $2,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, and $169,000 and $39,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, and $713,000 for the period from inception to June 30, 2011, respectively.

Income taxes
With the consent of its shareholders, at the date of inception, AMP elected under the Internal Revenue Code to be taxed as an S corporation. Since shareholders of an S corporation are taxed on their proportionate share of the Company’s taxable income, an S corporation is generally not subject to either federal or state income taxes at the corporate level. On December 28, 2009 pursuant to the merger transaction the Company revoked its election to be taxed as an S-corporation. As no taxable income has occurred from the date of this merger to June 30, 2011 and any deferred tax assets would be fully reserved, no provision or liability for federal or state income taxes has been included in the financial statements. Net operating losses of approximately $6,670,000 are available for carryover to be used against taxable income generated through 2031. The Company had not filed income tax returns during its period as a shell company.

Uncertain tax positions
The Company adopted the provisions of Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes. Those provisions clarify the accounting and recognition for income tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the Company’s income tax returns. The Company’s income tax filings are subject to audit by various taxing authorities. The years of filings open to these authorities and available for audit are 2007 - 2009. The Company's policy with regard to interest and penalties is to recognize interest through interest expense and penalties through other expense. In evaluating the Company’s tax provisions and accruals, future taxable income, and the reversal of temporary differences, interpretations and tax planning strategies are considered. The Company believes their estimates are appropriate based on current facts and circumstances.

Research and development costs
The Company expenses research and development costs as they are incurred. Research and development expense incurred was approximately $1,137,000 and $392,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, and $2,256,000 and $857,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2011, and 2010, and $7,035,000 for the period from inception to June 30, 2011, respectively, consisting of consulting, payroll, payroll taxes, engineering temporaries, purchased supplies, legal fees, parts and small tools.

Basic and diluted loss per share
Basic loss per share is computed by dividing net loss available to common shareholders (numerator) by the weighted average number of shares outstanding (denominator) during the period. For all periods, all of the Company’s common stock equivalents were excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per common share because they were anti-dilutive, due to the Company’s net losses.

Stock based compensation
The Company accounts for its stock based compensation in accordance with SFAS No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment, an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 123” (codified in FASB ASC Topic 718 and 505). The Company recognizes in its statement of operations the grant-date fair value of stock options and warrants issued to employees and non-employees. The fair value is estimated on the date of grant using a lattice-based valuation model that uses assumptions concerning expected volatility, expected term, and the expected risk-free rate of return. For the awards granted in 2011 and 2010, the expected volatility was estimated by management as 50% based on a range of forecasted results. The expected term of the awards granted was assumed to be the contract life of the option or warrant (two, three, five or 10 years as determined in the specific arrangement). The risk-free rate of return was based on market yields in effect on the date of each grant for United States Treasury debt securities with a maturity equal to the expected term of the award.

Related party transactions
Certain stockholders and stockholder family members have advanced funds or performed services for the Company. These services are believed to be at market rates for similar services from non-related parties. Related party accounts payable are segregated in the balance sheet. An experimental vehicle was sold to a stockholder in 2010 for $25,000 which also approximates the selling price to non-related parties.

Subsequent events
The Company evaluates events and transactions occurring subsequent to the date of the financial statements for matters requiring recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.