Automakers Sue to Block Emissions Law In California.

AUTOMOTIVE engineering laws; GREENHOUSE gas mitigation; AUTOMOBILE industry; ACTIONS & defenses (Law); LEGISLATION; SCHWARZENEGGER, Arnold, 1947-; POLLUTION prevention; ENERGY consumption; FORD, Bill, 1957-; CLIMATE change; GREENHOUSE gases; SPORT utility vehicles

Discusses the efforts of Toyota, General Motors and seven other automakers to block California's new greenhouse gas regulation, which was approved by the state in September 2004. How the lawsuit sets up a battle between automakers and Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who promised to defend the regulation; Highlights of the regulation, the first of its kind in North America; Arguments of automakers; Role of sport utility vehicles in driving up greenhouse gas emissions and increasing the country's oil consumption; Comments of William Clay Ford Jr., chairman and chief executive of the Ford Motor Company, who says he is committed to addressing climate change; Outlook.