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    GM’s newest EV is a Cadillac ‘baby Escalade’ called Vistiq

    General Motors’ newest all-electric vehicle and the last of a lineup of new EVs announced for its Cadillac luxury brand is a three-row SUV called Vistiq.
    The 2026 Cadillac Vistiq will arrive in dealer showrooms beginning next year, starting at $78,790.
    The vehicle features a 102-kilowatt-hour battery pack, estimated 300 miles of range, 615 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque.

    2026 Cadillac Vistiq EV

    DETROIT — General Motors’ newest all-electric vehicle is a three-row SUV for its Cadillac luxury line, which the brand is dubbing a “baby Escalade.”
    The 2026 Cadillac Vistiq will be the last in a lineup of new EVs in the brand’s portfolio when it goes into production and arrives in dealer showrooms beginning in 2025.

    The SUV will start at $78,790. It will slot between the roughly $63,500 Lyriq and forthcoming $130,000 Escalade IQ EVs.

    2026 Cadillac Vistiq EV

    Brad Franz, Cadillac director of marketing, described the new vehicle as being closer to a “baby Escalade” than a larger version of the Lyriq, which was the brand’s first EV, in 2022.
    “This is an outstanding platform that’s a heck of a lot closer to an Escalade than it is to the Lyriq,” he said during a media event.
    The Vistiq’s interior and exterior styling are in line with Cadillac’s current and upcoming EVs, including the Lyriq and Escalade IQ. The interior features a long screen across the dashboard, while the exterior includes sleek vertical and horizontal front lights and an illuminated grille.

    The vehicle has a 102-kilowatt-hour battery pack and offers 615 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. The Cadillac-estimated range of the vehicle fully charged is 300 miles.
    The Vistiq will be sold globally, including in the U.S. and Canada, with production starting in early 2025 at GM’s Spring Hill Manufacturing plant in Tennessee. At launch, the Vistiq will offer three trims: Luxury, Sport and Premium Luxury. A top-end “Platinum” trim will be offered starting in summer 2025.

    2026 Cadillac Vistiq EV More

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    Mattel pulls thousands of ‘Wicked’ dolls off shelves after printing adult web address on packaging

    Mattel is pulling its “Wicked”-branded fashion dolls from retail shelves.
    Packages of its Glinda, Elphaba and other character dolls have a misprinted web address that leads to an adult website instead of Universal’s movie site.
    Target, Walmart and Amazon had removed the line of “Wicked” dolls from their online storefronts as of midday Monday, as had Best Buy, Barnes & Noble and Macy’s.

    Still from the film “Wicked”
    Source: Universal Studios

    Thousands of Mattel’s “Wicked”-branded fashion dolls are flying off shelves, but not because of consumer demand.
    The toy company has been forced to pull its line of character dolls after a package misprint. Instead of listing the website for Universal’s “Wicked” movie, boxes featured a link to a pornographic website for a group called Wicked Pictures.

    “Mattel was made aware of a misprint on the packaging of the Mattel Wicked collection dolls, primarily sold in the U.S., which intended to direct consumers to the official WickedMovie.com landing page,” Mattel said in a statement. “We deeply regret this unfortunate error and are taking immediate action to remedy this. Parents are advised that the misprinted, incorrect website is not appropriate for children. Consumers who already have the product are advised to discard the product packaging or obscure the link and may contact Mattel Customer Service for further information.”
    Target, Walmart and Amazon had removed the line of “Wicked” dolls from their online storefronts as of midday Monday, as had Best Buy, Barnes & Noble and Macy’s. The products were also being sold at Kohl’s and DSW, among other retailers. Some sites were still taking action on the listings throughout the day Monday.
    It is unclear if Mattel will reprint the packages or provide retailers with stickers to cover the incorrect website domain. Mattel did not respond to CNBC’s request for additional comment after providing its initial statement.
    “Like any business, mistakes can and do happen in the toy business,” said James Zahn, editor in chief of The Toy Book. “This was likely an innocent oversight that made it through the normal processes. Most consumers — kids and adults alike — will never read the fine print on a package, and at the end of the day, the packaging is designed to end up in the trash. The odds of a kid reading the back of a doll box and being inclined to go online and visit the website are pretty slim.”
    The mishap comes as Universal floods retail shelves with “Wicked”-related products ahead of the film’s Nov. 22 release. The green-and-pink barrage is expected to bring a big boost to the retail industry just in time for the crucial holiday period.

    However, Mattel could see its revenue affected by the cost of removing the dolls.
    “I suppose the impact depends on the resolution, which we don’t yet know,” said Jaime Katz, an analyst at Morningstar.
    “The big winners in the short term are resellers, as this snafu sparked a flipper frenzy this weekend as retail shelves were quickly emptied by opportunists looking to make a quick buck by selling on eBay or Facebook Marketplace,” Zahn noted.
    Already dozens of Mattel’s dolls in the misprinted packages are available on eBay for list prices ranging between $40 and $2,100. The dolls retailed for between $20 and $40 depending on the character and outfit.
    Disclosure: Comcast is the parent company of NBCUniversal and CNBC. NBCUniversal is the distributor of “Wicked.” More

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    GM’s Wall Street vindication is happening as it outperforms its peers in 2024

    GM is proving it’s a standout among automakers this year as it continues to consistently outperform Wall Street’s earnings expectations and its competitors.
    Shares of the Detroit automaker have risen 54.7% ahead of Monday’s opening, outperforming legacy competitors, Tesla and U.S. electric vehicle startups.
    GM has done so with the assistance of $12.4 billion in stock buybacks since last November, which the automaker said will continue for the foreseeable future.

    Mary Barra, chair and chief executive officer of General Motors Co., during a news conference at the Hudson’s building in Detroit, Michigan, US, on Monday, April 15, 2024. 
    Jeff Kowalsky | Bloomberg | Getty Images

    DETROIT — General Motors is proving it’s a standout among automakers this year as it continues to consistently outperform Wall Street’s earnings expectations and its competitors.
    Shares of the Detroit automaker have risen 54.7% ahead of Monday’s opening, outperforming legacy competitors, Tesla, and U.S. electric vehicle startups Lucid Group and Rivian Automotive.

    “You may still not believe it, but it’s true, GM keeps on trucking,” BofA Securities analysts John Murphy wrote in an investor note in October after the automaker beat Wall Street’s third-quarter expectations.
    GM has done so with the assistance of $12.4 billion in stock buybacks since last November, which the automaker said will continue for the foreseeable future. But it’s also proving itself to be operationally better than its crosstown rivals Ford Motor and Chrysler parent Stellantis, as well as other sector peers.

    Stock chart icon

    General Motors vs. Ford Motor stock

    CEO and Chair Mary Barra has touted that kind of differentiation for years, but it has largely fallen upon deaf ears. For the most part, GM stock has traded in lockstep with Ford due to their histories and the cyclical nature of the automotive industry.
    But not this year. Ford stock is off 10% as of Friday’s close. Others, including Ferrari, which has been among Wall Street’s top auto performers, are also trailing GM.
    Even with shares of Tesla surging more than 30% during the past week following President-elect Donald Trump winning the U.S. presidential election, the electric vehicle maker continues to trail GM. Tesla CEO Elon Musk heavily campaigned for Trump.

    General Motors (GM): 54.7%
    Ferrari (RACE): 34.3%
    Tesla (TSLA): 29.3%
    Hyundai Motor* (HYMTF): 27.9%
    BYD Co.* (BYDDF): 27.2%
    Toyota Motor (TM): down 6.2%
    Ford (F): down 10%
    Honda Motor (HMC): down 13.3%
    Volkswagen* (VWAGY): down 28.2%
    Nissan Motor* (NSANY): down 36.1%
    Li Auto (LI): down 36.8%
    Stellantis (STLA): down 42.5%
    Nio Inc. (NIO): down 43.9%
    Lucid (LCID): down 47.5%
    Rivian (RIVN): down 54.9%* Over-the-counter shares

    GM, unlike many competitors, has not lowered its 2024 guidance or underperformed Wall Street’s quarterly earnings expectations. Instead, it’s actually raised key financial targets despite facing ongoing market challenges in the U.S. and its Chinese operations losing hundreds of millions of dollars amid increased competition.
    While GM has said it’s cutting costs, it has not had to be as aggressive as other automakers this year. Nissan, Volkswagen and Stellantis are conducting massive business restructurings that include layoffs, production cuts and other cost-saving measures.
    Shares of GM under Barra, who started leading the automaker in January 2014, have been lackluster for investors for most of her tenure. The stock’s average closing price under her tenure is $38 per share — lower than the $40.02 per share closing price before she became CEO, according to FactSet data.

    Cumulative, as of Friday’s close, shares are up 38.9% under Barra’s tenure. That compares with a nearly 300% increase for the S&P 500 during that time frame. GM’s all-time high stock price under Barra was $67.21 on Jan. 5, 2022, as Barra presented GM’s EV ambitions and growth plans.
    Whether GM can continue its hot streak going into next year is yet to be seen, but the automaker has advised it expects the 2025 performance of the company to be in line with this year, including signaling a weaker fourth quarter.
    Barra, when discussing quarterly earnings Oct. 22, reiterated her stance that GM will continue to “build on our competitive strength and deliver the performance that differentiates us from others in the industry.”
    “We’re going to be disciplined and we’ll be resilient, and we’ll make adjustments to the extent that we can to continue to drive growth and profitability,” Barra said. “In the weeks and months ahead, you’ll see more clearly than ever how we intend to leverage the tailwinds that are within our control to deliver strong results in 2025 that are in a similar range to 2024.”
    GM stock on average is weighted overweight with a price target of $59.85 per share, according to average Wall Street estimates compiled by FactSet. More

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    Tesla is not the only winner under Donald Trump

    A PART OF Donald Trump’s political genius is being all things to all people—or at least to all of his supporters. He has said so many contradictory things, throughout his public life and during the presidential campaign, that it is easy to latch onto the bits you like and either ignore those you don’t, or dismiss them as braggadocio. Investors, it seems, are no different. The former president’s decisive victory on November 5th sparked a global rally in equities, as stockpickers filled the Trump-shaped hole in their vision of the future with hopes and dreams. In those reveries, lower taxes and less red tape propel the planet’s biggest economy, and with it the economy of the planet as a whole. By the end of the week stocks were up by 2.4% globally relative to election day. More

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    Painting the town pink and green: ‘Wicked’ takes over retail ahead of theatrical debut

    Universal’s “Wicked” is drumming up buzz ahead of its Nov. 22 release with hundreds of merchandise offerings from dozens of retail partners.
    These pink-and-green collaborations cross the spectrum from apparel, accessories, footwear, beauty and costumes all the way to home decor, toys and even one-of-a-kind cars.
    The partnerships are part of Universal’s marketing strategy for the film and could bring a welcome boost to the retail industry just in time for the crucial holiday period.

    Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande star as Elphaba and Glinda in Universal’s “Wicked.”

    “Barbie” painted the town pink in 2023, and now “Wicked” is upping the ante by adding a splash of green.
    Universal’s theatrical retelling of the famed Broadway musical is creating buzz ahead of its Nov. 22 release with hundreds of merchandise offerings from dozens of retail partners. The green-and-pink barrage is part of Universal’s marketing strategy for the film and could bring a welcome boost to the retail industry just in time for the crucial holiday period.

    These “Wicked” collaborations cross the spectrum from apparel, accessories, footwear, beauty and costumes all the way to home decor, toys and even one-of-a-kind cars.
    The collections range in price points as well, offering consumers affordable and luxury options to show off their love of all things “Wicked.”

    Target and Walmart have a slew of products on shelves, with whole sections of the store dedicated to themed shirts, sweaters and footwear, as well as dolls, plush figures, books and nail polish.

    Lego and Mattel have brick sets and Barbies tied to the film; Starbucks has a collection of new tumblers and mugs, plus limited-time drinks inspired by main characters Glinda and Elphaba; and Betty Crocker has “mix to reveal” cake mixes that turn pink or green when wet ingredients are added.

    Toyota’s Lexus is even releasing two one-of-a-kind versions of its 2024 Lexus TX that have “Wicked”-themed wraps.

    The Broadway show on which the film is based is one of the most popular and highest-grossing musicals of all time and already has an established and rabid fanbase.
    Just at the Gershwin Theater in New York City, more than 14.5 million people have bought tickets to see the show since it launched in 2003, generating more than $1.67 billion in ticket sales, according to Broadway World. Those figures don’t include traveling national shows or international residencies.
    These fans are hungry for merchandise that celebrates and enhances their fandom and they are willing to pay for it, according to Mintel’s 2024 “U.S. Superfans and Enthusiasts Consumer Report.”
    The report found that nearly half of “superfans,” the most enthusiastic and devoted fans, have spent money on official fandom events or merchandise in the past year. The report, which surveyed 2,000 adults in the U.S., also determined that fandom collaborations and partnered releases are most successful among niche super-fandoms.
    And that’s a good thing for the retail space, which saw the consumer confidence index fall 7 points in September, the largest drop in more than three years, only to soar up 11% in October, the biggest single-month acceleration since March 2021.
    Retailers that have partnered with Universal are expected to see a boost from sales of “Wicked” merchandise, which could help them stand out from other companies during the next few months.
    What could also drive demand is the fact that these merchandise collaborations are limited-time only. Once the stock is gone, it’s not likely to be replenished. So, even the most price-conscious consumers may be willing to spend in order to get these products before they vanish from shelves.
    Movie theaters, too, are offering up themed popcorn buckets, drink specials and other merchandise for moviegoers who head out to cinemas to see the film. These retail opportunities could help boost the “Wicked” box office.
    At present, box-office analysts have a wide-ranging read on what “Wicked” could do during its domestic opening weekend. On the conservative end is an $85 million haul, predicted by leading entertainment and technology research firm NRG. Meanwhile, others speculate that the first film in a planned duology could top $100 million and capture as much as $150 million during its first three days in theaters.
    The divergence of expectations comes as Hollywood has struggled to market and make a profit on movie musicals in recent years. Adaptations such as “In the Heights,” “Dear Evan Hanson” and “Mean Girls,” all based on Broadway shows, failed to drum up significant box-office revenue during their runs.
    However, other fan-favorite intellectual property-driven titles — including “Dune: Part Two,” “Deadpool & Wolverine” and “Inside Out 2” — have overperformed estimates. With “Wicked” already being a household name but existing in the musical space, box-office analysts are finding it tricky to predict where it will land. More

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    MLB, Braves object to Diamond Sports reorganization plan, question company’s future viability

    Major League Baseball and the Atlanta Braves have objected to Diamond Sports Group’s current restructuring plan, according to a Friday bankruptcy court filing.
    The Braves and MLB said that they have “grave concerns” with Diamond’s future viability as the plan currently stands.
    They said their concern stems from a lack of information about the restructuring proposal for the country’s largest owner of regional sports networks.

    A Major League Baseball logo at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, May 22, 2022.
    Ronald Martinez | Getty Images

    Major League Baseball and the Atlanta Braves have raised issues with the reorganization plan and future viability of Diamond Sports Group, the country’s largest owner of regional sports networks, according to a Friday bankruptcy court filing.
    The Braves and MLB said in the objection that they have “grave concerns” with the current plan, as “there is a substantial likelihood that [Diamond Sports] will find themselves once again in financial distress and/or bankruptcy court in the near future.”

    The filing noted that both MLB and the Braves have a vested interest in Diamond Sports succeeding with a reorganization plan, but they are not convinced that the one currently proposed is viable.
    A representative for Diamond didn’t immediately comment on the filing. The company has until Wednesday to respond to the objection. Meanwhile, Diamond will seek approval of its reorganization plan from a U.S. bankruptcy judge on Thursday.
    MLB and the Braves’ concern stems from a lack of information about the restructuring proposal, which consists of 20 documents for a total of 181 pages, according to the filing. Diamond attorneys have said in court there are limitations to what they can provide in part because of the confidentiality agreements with the company’s distribution partners, such as pay TV operators.
    In addition, both the league and Braves have also requested more clarity on what Diamond’s proposed commercial partnership with Amazon will look like. Diamond attorneys have previously said in court that discussions with Amazon are still ongoing.
    MLB and the Braves are also concerned about confusion over Diamond Sports’ direct-to-consumer plan, a strategy that has only become more important as more customers exit from traditional cable bundles.

    This is not the first time MLB has wanted more information on Diamond’s financial plans. In October, an MLB attorney said in a court hearing that the league wanted additional information on the language used in a recent naming rights agreement deal Diamond struck with FanDuel for the regional sports networks, formerly known as Bally Sports, that Diamond owns.
    The Braves are part of publicly traded company Atlanta Braves Holdings after being split off from John Malone’s Liberty Media in 2023. Malone is still a shareholder in the new company in addition to being chairman of Liberty Media.
    Diamond Sports had previously said it will retain its contract with the Braves as part of its bankruptcy plan, while attempting to renegotiate its contracts with 11 other MLB teams it has deals with, or drop them.
    The Friday objection does not mean that the Braves have turned away from Diamond for their regional media rights.
    As of Thursday, the St. Louis Cardinals and Diamond agreed to terms for their local rights, and in an October court hearing, attorneys said that Diamond was nearing an agreement for the Miami Marlins.
    On Friday, the Cincinnati Reds said they would exit their regional sport network owned by Diamond, according to a court filing.
    Three of the 11 teams that Diamond was attempting to rework contracts with have since turned to MLB to produce their local games. More

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    Philadelphia Phillies capital raise values the team at around $3 billion

    The Philadelphia Phillies recently raised close to $500 million in capital from three new investors, according to two people familiar with the deal.
    The transaction values the Major League Baseball team and its 25% stake in regional sports network NBC Sports Philadelphia at about $3 billion, the people said.
    It is not known what the Phillies will use the proceeds from the capital raise for, but there has been some speculation that the team could go after free agent Juan Soto.

    Philadelphia Phillies managing partner and principal owner John Middleton signs autographs prior to the 2024 London Series game between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies at London Stadium in London on June 9, 2024.
    Daniel Shirey | Major League Baseball | Getty Images

    The Philadelphia Phillies recently raised close to $500 million in capital from three new investors in a transaction that values the Major League Baseball team and its 25% stake in regional sports network NBC Sports Philadelphia at about $3 billion, according to two people familiar with the deal.
    As part of the transaction, two existing owners, managing partner John Middleton and Stanley Middleman, also invested more money in the Phillies, bringing the total capital infusion to close to $600 million, according to the people.

    On Nov. 1, Middleton announced new investors, including Mitchell Morgan and Guntram Weissenberger Jr., would be joining the Phillies. The size of the investment and the third investor were not disclosed.
    Given that limited-partner stakes typically go for about 20% less than control stakes because LPs have no say in how the team is run, the $3 billion valuation equates to roughly a $3.7 billion control valuation.
    That is an impressive number considering the Baltimore Orioles were sold for $1.73 billion earlier this year and the most ever paid for a baseball team was the $2.42 billion that Steve Cohen paid for the New York Mets in 2020.
    A little more than a year ago, Middleman purchased a 16.25% stake in the Phillies at a grossed up valuation of $2.8 billion.
    Based on revenue multiples, a $3.7 billion control valuation for the Phillies would be eight times 2023 revenue, compared with multiples of 5.3 for the Orioles and 6.7 for the Mets, according to historic revenue calculations.

    The Philadelphia Phillies celebrate after defeating the New York Mets 12-2 in a game at Citi Field in New York City on Sept. 20, 2024.
    Dustin Satloff | Getty Images

    The Phillies have one of the best local television deals in baseball. In 2014, the team inked a deal with NBC Sports Philadelphia that guaranteed the team an average of $100 million a year in rights fees over 25 years, plus a 25% stake in the regional sports network.
    However, cord-cutting has resulted in tougher economics for regional sports networks, the most egregious example being Diamond Sports Group, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March 2023. As pay-TV revenues fall, some baseball teams could see a reduction in their television revenue.
    The Phillies’ exposure to that risk is lower, since Comcast owns 75% of the regional sports network.
    It is not known what the Phillies will use the proceeds from the capital raise for, but there has been some speculation that the team could go after free agent Juan Soto.
    Nabbing Soto, who could get between $50 million and $70 million a year, would likely land the team a huge luxury tax bill. Last season, the Phillies, who are led by superstar Bryce Harper, had a payroll of $262 million, the fourth-highest in baseball, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts. The team is on the hook for a luxury tax, formerly known as the competitive balance tax, of $10 million, according to Spotrac.
    The Phillies have a payroll of $240 million heading into the 2025 season, according to Cot’s. The MLB luxury tax limit is set at $241 million.
    Prior to this capital raise, the Middleton family owned 48.75% of the Phillies, the Buck family owned 32.5% and the Middleman family owned 16.25%, according to a person familiar with the team’s ownership. Pat Gillick owned 1.5%, and David Montgomery owned 1%, the person said.
    It is not clear what the precise ownership interests are after the capital raise.
    A spokesperson for MLB did not respond to CNBC’s request for comment. A spokesperson for the Phillies declined to comment, as did a spokesperson for Galatioto Sports Partners, the advisory firm that represented the Phillies on the capital raise.
    Disclosure: Comcast owns NBCUniversal, the parent company of CNBC. More

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    Toyota says California-led EV mandates are ‘impossible’ as states fall short of goal

    Toyota Motor said Friday that California-led electric vehicle mandates starting next year are “impossible” to meet.
    The regulations call for 35% of 2026 model-year vehicles, which will begin to be introduced next year, to be zero-emission vehicles.
    J.D. Power reports no states are in accordance with the EV mandate as of this year.
    Only California, Colorado and Washington have seen at least 20% of retail sales being EV or PHEVs this year.

    A sign is displayed outside a Toyota Motor Corp. dealership on Jan. 30, 2024 in Tokyo, Japan.
    Tomohiro Ohsumi | Getty Images News | Getty Images

    DETROIT — Toyota Motor sounded the alarm Friday that California-led electric vehicle mandates that are set to start next year are “impossible” to meet and, if they’re not changed, will lead to less customer choice in several states.
    Current requirements under the California Air Resources Board’s “Advanced Clean Cars II” regulations call for 35% of 2026 model-year vehicles, which will begin to be introduced next year, to be zero-emission vehicles, or ZEV. Battery-electric, fuel cell and, to an extent, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles qualify as zero emission under the regulations.

    “I have not seen a forecast by anyone … government or private, anywhere that has told us that that number is achievable. At this point, it looks impossible,” Jack Hollis, chief operating officer of Toyota Motor North America, said during a virtual media roundtable Friday. “Demand isn’t there. It’s going to limit a customer’s choice of the vehicles they want.”
    The California Air Resources Board reports 12 states and Washington, D.C., have adopted the rules. Roughly half of them did so starting with the 2027 model year. The EV mandates are part of CARB’s Advanced Clean Cars regulations that require 100% of new vehicle sales in the state of California to be zero-emission models by 2035.

    J.D. Power said no states are in accordance with the EV mandate as of this year. Only California (27%), Colorado (22%) and Washington (20%) have seen at least 20% of retail sales being EVs or PHEVs this year. Other states such as New York (12%), New Mexico (5%) and Rhode Island (9%) are far from compliant.
    The national average of EV/PHEV adoption for retail sales is only 9% through October, J.D. Power said Friday.
    Hollis said if the mandates are unchanged, it will lead to “unnatural acts” in the automotive industry that have already begun at some automakers, where companies are supplying states which have agreed to the rules with a disproportionate amount of electrified models.

    “It’s going to distort the industry. It’s going to distort the business. Why? Because it’s unnatural to what the current demand in the marketplace is,” Hollis, a longtime automotive executive, said.
    Several automotive insiders previously told CNBC that the EV mandate issue needed to be addressed regardless of who won election this year.

    The California Air Resources Board did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
    In President-elect Donald Trump’s first term in office, a legal battle ensued to revoke states’ ability to set their own emissions standards. Several officials expect Trump to renew that push once he’s back in the White House.
    Hollis said that he “hopes it doesn’t come to that” this time around, and that the states, federal government and auto industry can come to a resolution. He also said Toyota would prefer one national standard — a sentiment many automakers previously shared.
    “We would always want a 50-state rule, because that way we can treat all customers, all dealers, equally, fairly, whatever that might be,” Hollis said. “Our hope would be is that California and [the Environmental Protection Agency] would match up, and it would be reduced down to something that is achievable. Even if it’s a push, even if it’s a reach, but at this point, it’s an impossible stage.”

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