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When it comes to electric vehicles in the U.S., California is by far the largest market: It accounts for nearly a third of the country’s EV sales. And for years, Tesla dominated this market, making up a majority of those sales. But thats changed: Teslas share of EV sales in California fell below 50% in the first quarter of 2025even as sales of other EVs increased. In the first quarter of 2024, registrations for new Tesla vehicles made up 55.5% of Californias EV market. But in the first quarter of 2025, it fell to 43.9%, according to data from the California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA). At the same time, registrations for all other EV models increased by 35%. Overall, zero emissions vehicle sales rose 7.3% in California between January and March. Still, no other companies are close to competing with Tesla when it comes to EV models. But they have seen their share increase slightly. The second highest market share went to Ford, with 6%up 1.5% from the first quarter in 2024followed by BMW, with 5.6% (up .7% year over year) and then Hyundai, with 5.4% (up 1.1% year over year). When it comes to the top selling battery electric and plug-in hybrid models in 2025, Tesla still took the number one and two spots with its Model Y and Model 3. There have been more than 23,000 Model Ys sold in California so far this year, and nearly 14,000 Model 3s. Hyundai took the third and fourth spots with its Prologue and Ioniq 5, but those sales were much lowerabout 4,400 and 3,700, respectively. Fords Mustang Mach-E took the number five spot, with 3,600 new sales. Tesla backlash is affecting sales everywhere Telsa once held an even bigger share of Californias EV market. In 2023, it accounted for 60% of EV sales, and in 2022, 71%. Part of that decline is likely due to the increase in EV offerings from other brands. But Teslas shrinking sales in California, especially this year, are also a sign of the companys overall slide away from EV dominancea trend fueled in part by CEO Elon Musks involvement in the Trump administration. An aging product lineup and backlash against Elon Musks political initiatives are likely key factors for the decline in Tesla BEV market share, the CNCDA wrote in its report. Along with the political backlash, Tesla dealt with manufacturing disruptions this year that led to downtime at its assembly plants globally. Across Europe, Tesla has already sold 42.6% fewer cars this year, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Associationeven though, once again, overall EV sales are up. Sales of Teslas China-made EVs also plunged 49.2% in February alone, compared to the year prior. (Teslas sold in the U.S. are made in California and Texas, though they still include some parts from abroad; Tesla does have a factory in Germany to sell in Europe, though it also exports cars from China.) Teslas stock price has also crashed, falling more than 40% since the start of the year. In one day alone at the beginning of April, the company lost 15% of its value. For years, Tesla was the dominant brand associated with electric vehicles, but thats clearly changing. Other car companies are still building up their EV offerings, and even bringing them statesideHyundai recently opened a $7 billion manufacturing plant in Georgia to build electric and hybrid vehicles here. When it comes to overall car sales, though, the Trump administration’s tariffs on auto imports have muddled the years outlook. In March and April, customers flocked to buy cars before the tariffs kicked in, but its not yet clear if those tariffs will lead to higher vehicle prices, and by how much. California itself expects new vehicle registrations to fall 2.3% this year compared to last, because of U.S. trade policies.
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If you thought youd heard the last of the viral Apple dance, think again. The TikToker behind it is now suing Roblox over its unauthorized use. Last year, during the height of Brat summer, Roblox partnered with singer Charli XCX to feature her music and likeness in an in-game concert within “Dress to Impress,” a fashion game on the platform. In a lawsuit filed last week in Los Angeles, Kelley Heyerthe creator of the dance set to Charli XCXs hit songalleges that Roblox used her choreography in the update before finalizing negotiations to officially license the dance, as first reported by Polygon. Heyer first posted the Apple dance on June 15, 2024, and submitted a copyright application on August 30. That was after Roblox reached out to her about licensing the dance as an emote for players to purchase. Roblox added the dance emote, an in-game action used to express a characters personality, in mid-August to coincide with the update. According to the lawsuit, Heyer expressed her willingness to license the dance on August 12, but alleges that Roblox has refused to finalize a license agreement and that she has received no compensation for the use of her choreography. Roblox removed the emote from the game in November 2024but not before it was sold over 60,000 times, earning an estimated $123,000 from the copyrighted work, per the lawsuit. Heyer hasnt seen any of that revenue, and since the dance is entirely separate from the Charli XCX song, shes suing to claim her share (Charli XCX is not named in the lawsuit). Roblox moved forward using Kelleys IP without a signed agreement, attorney Miki Anzai said in a statement to Polygon. Kelley is an independent creator who should be compensated fairly for her work and we saw no other option than to file suit to prove that. We remain willing and open to settle and hope to come to a peaceful agreement. Roblox has since responded. A spokesperson told Polygon: “As a platform powered by a community of creators, Roblox takes the protection of intellectual property very seriously and is committed to protecting intellectual property rights of independent developers and creators to brands and artists both on and off the platform.” They continued: Roblox is confident in its position and the propriety of its dealings in this matter and looks forward to responding in court.
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Superman was born Kryptonian, raised Methodist, and sketched into existence by two Jewish teens in 1930s Cleveland. Faith and morality are his DNA. There are no overt religious references in Superman comics. But over eight decades, hes been viewed as a divine entity, a savior figurehis sacrifice Christlike, his will to lead as strong as Moses parting the Red Sea, and his compassion akin to a bodhisattva, an enlightened being who guides Buddhists on the spiritual path. While scholars, comic book writers, and fans alike are struck by the religious undertones in Superman comics, they say what separates Superman from the ever-growing pack of superheroes is his singular ability to bring hope in a hopeless world. James Gunn’s Superman sparks conversation As fans celebrate Superman Day on Friday, marking the 87th anniversary of the original superheros birth, they are also eagerly anticipating James Gunns film Superman set for release on July 11. This version starring David Corenswet, the first Jewish actor to play Superman in a major film, promises a return to a version of a vulnerable Man of Steel who is rooted in values espoused by most faithsgoodness, compassion, and hope. The film has sparked a conversation about the place of Superman in the world and his personal code of ethics after several recent depictions of superheroes as antiheroes. Corenswet said in a recent interview to Fandango that what captivates him about Superman is how he chooses to see good in people and not dwell on the negative. Why think about all the terrible things when we can focus on the good things we did today? he said. In the same interview, Gunn said his Superman will reinforce the characters core value of preserving life at any cost. He believes that the sanctity of life is of the utmost importance, Gunn said, noting the contrast with Supermans archnemesis Lex Luthor, who values scientific advancement over life. Symbol of hope and positive masculinity It was precisely this benevolent, hopeful version of Superman that inspired Robert Revington, who teaches at the Vancouver School of Theology at the University of British Columbia, to go skydiving in a Superman costume on his 28th birthday. And yet Revington, a Christian, balks at Christlike portrayals of his favorite superhero. I like Superman and I like Jesus, he said. I dont necessarily want to conflate the two. To me, the best depiction of Superman is as a symbol of hope. Revington also sees Supermans relevance today as an example of positive masculinity. Hes this version of strong, but compassionate masculinity, which several prominent figures dont necessarily embody, he said. Revington and many others beloved iteration of Superman appeared in All-Star Superman, a 12-issue series published by DC Comics between 2005 and 2008. The superhero saves a young person who is about to take their own life with the endearing message: You are stronger than you think you are. Grant Morrison, who wrote those comics, has said his view of Superman was shaped by Giovanni Pico della Mirandolas Oration On The Dignity of Man, which argues that humans ought to be more virtuous than angels. Superman speaks to our better angels Humans, Morrison said in a 2008 interview, become what they imitate, which is why he made Superman an inspirational character. We live in the stories we tell ourselves, he told Newsarama, a comic book website, and can choose to be the astronaut or the gangster. The superhero or the super villain. The angel or the devil. Its entirely up to us. As a result, said Matthew Brake, founder and editor of Pop Culture and Theology, Superman is an idea that can inspire us to be our best selves. Supermans character is also shaped by his upbringing as a Kansas farm boy, raised by kindly parentsJonathan and Martha Kent. They are portrayed as Methodists in the comics. Superheroes, in recent decades, have received less-than-flattering treatment. In The Boys, a comic book turned Amazon Prime series, the Superman-like character, Homelander, is a government-sponsored hero whose smiling exterior conceals the heart of a sadist. Invincible, a comic turned television series from Robert Kincaid, author of the Walking Dead, features Omni-man, a Superman-like character who turns out to be an alien invader bent on conquest. The main character, Invincible, is Omni-mans son, and must choose between protecting the Earth or taking his fathers side. Dune, the famed sci-fi book adapted into blockbuster movies, warns of superheroes’ frailty Heroes are painful, superheroes are a catastrophe, Dune‘s author Frank Herbert once wrote. The mistakes of superheroes involve too many of us in disaster. A relatable superhero But Superman has cemented his place in pop culture not just as a beacon of hope, but also as a character relatable to many, regardless of race or ethnicity. Gene Luen Yang, who has written several Superman comics, is best known for his 2020 graphic novel Superman Smashes the Klan, a story about a Chinese American family moving to Metropolis in 1946 and facing discrimination from the Klan. The story follows the Lee family as they confront the white supremacist group with Supermans help. Yang sees his own experience as a Chinese American mirrored in Supermans story. The idea that you have to hide who you are or that youre caught in between cultures, he said. Superman has two namesKal-El, his Kryptonian name and Clark Kent, his American name. I had a Chinese name at home and an American name in school. So even though Im a practicing Catholic, I was more drawn to his Jewish roots because thats where I could relate more. Yang sees Superman as the original superhero who inspired almost religious fervor in the geekdom, featuring cosplayers who reenact scenes as a Christian might reenact biblical episodes around Christmas or Easter. A trip to a comic convention is like a pilgrimage where followers collect original art and all kinds of relics. Stories in pop culture also draw from older storytelling traditions, often rooted in religions. In some ways, you can think of religions as communities that are built around stories that last centuries, Yang said. The idea of self-sacrifice, the idea that you do good deeds without the desire to gain recognition. Thats the whole point of secret identities. While his Catholic faith is an important facet of his life, Yang said he never forced religion into his Superman comics. I write more about my life and my lived experience of faith, with the doubts and the ragged edges, he said. Characters like Superman, while not themselves religious, provide a portal to the sacred through the profane, said A. David Lewis, a Boston-based graphic novelist and comic book writer. I love that people take something from popular culture and find some level of spirituality or find a greater connection to some divine source through it, he said. But I would never say Superman is just of the Jewish or Christian people. Like some of the best narratives out there, Superman gives us access to something transcendent. Superman’s strong Jewish roots Samantha Baskind, professor of art history at Cleveland State University, is Jewish; she sees numerous parallels between Supermans story and the history of Jews. Supermans solitary flight from Krypton in a little spacecraft is reminiscent of how Moses mother placed him in a papyrus basket and left him on the Nile, seeing it has his best chance of survival. Some also compare Superman’s backstory to the Kindertransport, she said, referring to a rescue program that transported nearly 10,000 children, mostly Jewish, from Nazi-controlled territories to Great Britain in 1938 and 1939. In Supermans Kryptonian name, Kal-El, chosen by his original Jewish creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the El in Hebrew connotes God. In DC Comics, Superman also frequents the Bottle City of Kandor, a Kryptonian city shrunk down and placed in a bottle, representing a fragmented piece of Kryptons history. Baskind said to her it is reminiscent of how diaspora Jews visit Israel. Theres also the thinking that Siegel and Shuster created Superman because they were these two, skinny, young Jewish men who couldnt go out and fight Hitler, but Superman fought Nazis on the cover of their comic books, she said. In some early editions, Superman held Hitler by his Nazi uniform as he begged for mercy. Appeal to the religiously unaffiliated Despite the religious undertones, Supermans appeal to those growing religiously unaffiliated remains strong, said Dan Clanton, professor of religious studies at Doane University in Nebraska. He says its because Supermans story truly encapsulates American civil religion. This idea that there are practices and beliefs that provide all, regardless of religious identity, with a sense of being part of something bigger than themselves, he said. Neal Bailey, a contributor for over a decade to Superman Homepage and an atheist, believes Superman at his best is a philosophical pragmatist solving the most complex problems with the least amount of harm. He actually goes beyond religion to see our commonalities, he said. Superman wouldnt care about people’s religious beliefs. He would care more about whether they are living up to their human potential. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. Deepa Bharath of The Associated Press and Bob Smietana of Religion News Service
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