Latest news with #LittleTikes
The Drive
05-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
This $24,000 'E-Wagon' Golf Cart Is Basically a Power Wheels for Grown-Ups
A country club membership can make you feel elite, like you're a class above the plebs who get stopped at the door. But what if you're elite even by country club standards? What if you're at the tippy-top of the financial food chain, a real one-percenter? You can't be slumming it on the green with every dentist and lawyer in regular golf carts. Instead, you need to get a Bodo E-Wagon golf cart, like this one that recently sold at a Mecum auction. OK, so aside from the fact that this is essentially just a rich grown-up version of a Little Tikes car, it's kind of fun. At a very quick glance, it could pass for a real Mercedes G-Class, at least until a human stands next to it, for scale. The proportions have clearly been tweaked for golf cart duty. Bodo has also traded Merc's three-pointed star logo for its own, but of course, anyone determined enough could always just change it out. Especially if they desire that badge as much as, or perhaps more than, the vehicle itself. Mecum The E-Wagon (or 'G-Wagon'—the official name and even solid info on the company that makes it is, perhaps unsurprisingly, hard to find) is a bit more sophisticated than what golfers normally use from tee to tee. For starters, it's fully enclosed, with power locking doors and even power windows. As someone whose allergies would be running wild on a golf course, that sounds nice. Once inside, it has caramel-colored leather seats, heating, air conditioning, four-wheel disc brakes with a brake boost, a backup camera, and entertainment screens for backseat passengers. So it ain't just for looks—the E-Wagon is a genuinely luxurious golf cart. It's nicer inside than my actual car. Speaking of actual cars, this E-Wagon is capable of driving on some public roads. Some states allow for low-speed vehicles (LSVs) to drive on streets with speed limits of 25 mph or less. That said, it's actually too fast for states like New Jersey, which only allow an attainable top speed of 25 mph, and this faux Merc golf cart can do 35 mph. But if you do drive it on the road, it has fully functioning headlights, turn signals, and even windshield wipers. Mecum You can drive it pretty far, too. Its 10-kWh battery gives it an impressive 80 miles of range. That's about as much as the original BMW i3. Of course, it only has a 20-horsepower electric motor, and it's considerably smaller and lighter. Still, not bad at all for a fully loaded golf cart. This specific E-Wagon recently sold at a Mecum auction in Glendale, but there are others available at Florida-based dealer Gulf Carts. And not only G-Class replicas, either; you can get Range Rover, Porsche Cayenne, and even Ram TRX-themed carts, too. Perfect for those kings and queens of the green who want to flex their pockets at the club. Got tips? Send 'em to tips@ Nico DeMattia is a staff writer at The Drive. He started writing about cars on his own blog to express his opinions when no one else would publish them back in 2015, and eventually turned it into a full-time career.
Associated Press
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Little Tikes® Becomes the Playground Super Hero with New Justice League™-Themed Toys
LOS ANGELES, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MGA Entertainment (MGA), one of the largest privately held toy and entertainment companies in the world, is extending its partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products (WBDGCP) in 2025. The Little Tikes Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MGA and popular toy brand across generations since 1969, announced today new collections inspired by DC's Justice League, including the Batman™ Bow Blaster™, Batman vs. The Joker™ Blaster 2-Pack and Justice League Power Pods. The collection offers young fans thrilling opportunities to imagine themselves as DC characters, battling alongside their favorite iconic characters like Batman, Superman and The Joker. DC's creative work entertains audiences of every generation around the world with DC's stories and characters, and like Little Tikes toys, inspire limitless potential within fans. 'We are thrilled to reimagine the Justice League from the DC Universe through the lens of Little Tikes,' said Isaac Larian, CEO and Founder of MGA Entertainment. 'Built to be unstoppable, Little Tikes toys inspire limitless potential within the kids that play with them. The new collection, in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery, allows kids - and their parents - to immerse themselves in the world of their favorite superheroes and villains.' The Batman Bow Blaster lets kids channel their inner Batman with a front-loading design that launches colorful Power Pods up to 12 feet! This versatile bow rotates to function as either a traditional bow or a crossbow, delivering dynamic play options for little heroes. Perfect for both indoor and outdoor adventures, the Bow Blaster ensures safety with its soft Power Pods, so the fun stays safe and action-packed for all ages. The Batman vs. The Joker Blaster 2-Pack allow kids to battle it out Justice League style, making it the perfect playdate essential. This 2-in-1 set comes with two front-loading blasters and soft Power Pods for safe, easy-to-use dueling and roleplay. Kids will have a blast engaging in thrilling battles and using their imagination to reenact their favorite DC showdowns. The Justice League Power Pods expansion set features ten additional soft projectiles, perfect for extending the adventure. With vibrant designs inspired by DC Super Heroes like Superman and The Flash, these Power Pods are compatible with all Little Tikes™ DC Boom Blasters, keeping kids engaged for hours of imaginative play. When the super hero battles conclude, cleanup is a breeze—the packaging doubles as storage for easy organization. The Batman Bow Blaster retails for $19.99, the Batman vs. The Joker Blaster 2-Pack for $29.99 and the Justice League Power Pods for $9.99. The full collection is available now at Amazon and Walmart, as well as online at To learn more about Little Tikes visit or engage with the brand on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. About MGA Entertainment MGA Entertainment is the largest privately held toy and entertainment company in the U.S., known for its commitment to creativity, quality, and innovation. Headquartered in Los Angeles with offices globally, the company creates innovative, proprietary, and licensed consumer products and entertainment properties, including toys, games, dolls, apparel, consumer electronics, home décor, stationery, sporting goods, movies, and television series. The MGA family includes award-winning brands such as L.O.L. Surprise!™, Little Tikes®, Rainbow High™, Bratz®, MGA's Miniverse™, Yummiland™, CarTuned™, Wonder Factory ™, GrossMos!™, Pixel Petz™, Micro Games of America, Fluffie Stuffiez™, BABY born®, and Zapf Creation®. For more information, please visit or check out at LinkedIn, TikTok, I nstagram and Facebook. . About Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products Warner Bros. Discovery Global Themed Entertainment (WBDGTE), part of Warner Bros. Discovery's Revenue & Strategy division, is a worldwide leader in the creation, development, and licensing of location-based entertainment, live events, exhibits, and theme park experiences based on the biggest franchises, stories and characters from Warner Bros.' film, television, animation, and games studios, HBO, Discovery, DC, Cartoon Network and more. WBDGTE is home to the groundbreaking locations of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal theme parks around the world, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, The WB Abu Dhabi, The FRIENDS Experience, The Game of Thrones Studio Tour and countless other experiences inspired by Harry Potter, DC, Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo, Game of Thrones, FRIENDS and more. With best-in-class partners, WBDGTE allows fans around the world to physically immerse themselves inside their favorite brands and franchises. Attachments Amanda Magalski FINN Partners for MGA Entertainment [email protected] MGA Newsroom MGA Entertainment +1.818.221.4431 [email protected]
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
145% tariffs on China are clobbering the toy industry
Toys made in China have been exempt from tariffs since President Donald Trump's first term. That is no longer the case. Last month, Trump raised tariff rates on China to 20%, dealing a big blow to the toy industry. But he didn't stop there. Just a few weeks later, Trump was set to tack on an additional 34% 'reciprocal' tariff. Then he tacked on another tariff, and another, and another. Now, goods from China are being tariffed at a whopping 145% rate — and that number will likely keep growing as Beijing vows to continue retaliating against new tariffs and Trump threatens to do the same. For American families, this means relatively inexpensive toys could become luxuries. That's because nearly 80% of all toys sold in the US are manufactured in China, according to the Toy Association, a leading industry group. 'We have no choice but to increase our prices by high double digits,' said Isaac Larian, CEO of California-based MGA Entertainment, which makes Bratz and L.O.L. Surprise! Dolls, among several other toys. 'The life of my business, 46 years, is on the line.' Trump said that one of his main impetuses for enacting higher tariffs is to bring manufacturing jobs back to the US. Yet Larian said China's 125% retaliatory tariffs on US exports are going to force him to lay off American workers at his Hudson, Ohio, factory, which has around 700 employees in total. That's because many goods manufactured there are shipped to China. While the majority of MGA's production remains in China, its Ohio factory produces much of its Little Tikes line of goods, including toy cars and sandboxes. The facility could manufacture more toys, but Americans 'do not want to work in factories,' he said. Even if finding more workers weren't an issue, it would still cost more for the US factory to manufacture the toys that are currently being produced in China, even with the current tariffs in place, he said. Moreover, it's particularly challenging to source the raw materials needed to make doll hair domestically. 'There is no American factory anywhere that can make hair for dolls. What am I supposed to do? Sell bald dolls?' Larian said. Larian's reasons for sticking with China are not unique. While many industries, including ones that were also previously exempt from Chinese tariffs, have shifted much of their production away from China, it has remained — by far — the top source of foreign-produced toys sent to the US. Of the nearly $17.7 billion worth of toys the US imported last year, 75%, or $13.4 billion worth, came from China, according to US Commerce Department data. 'This goes back to the '80s and early '90s' when companies were scouting out lower-cost destinations to manufacture toys, said Greg Ahearn, president and CEO of The Toy Association. China has much lower labor rates compared to many other parts of the world, which has helped keep costs down for making toys and lowered prices for consumers, Ahearn told CNN. And, even with recent technological upgrades, toy production still involves hand labor, he said — for instance, painting doll faces and action figures. Furthermore, many toy manufacturers are considered small businesses. It's much easier for them to tap in to the existing infrastructure in China than to build factories in the US from scratch, he said. 'There is no alternative in the short run. Yes, there is manufacturing that is done here in the US, but those are mainly things that can be highly automated,' said Ahearn, who previously was the chief marketing officer at Toy 'R' Us. Jay Foreman, CEO of Basic Fun!, a toy company that makes Care Bears and Tonka trucks, told CNN in a February interview right after Trump enacted a 20% tariff on China that his entire supply chain is in China. 'Our tooling, our factory base, the consistency of production — and how do you just up and leave and go to another market?' Foreman said. 'There are things you aren't able to make (in the US) physically, or produce here, and toys are one of those.' Speaking with CNN again after the 145% tariffs were enacted, he said: 'The situation… has gone from a problem to a crisis for Basic Fun! and our entire industry. This threatens not only the price and amount of toys that will be in the market, but the actual survival of our industry.' It's a situation many toy companies are confronting, especially now when they'd otherwise place holiday season orders. The loss of revenue means several 'may not be able to stay in business,' Ahearn told CNN. Basic Fun! has paused all toy shipments, putting itself in a potentially dire situation. 'We cannot afford to take the risk of not knowing what the tariff will be when the goods land,' Foreman said. But at the same time, he said, 'if we have no product, we have no cash flow, and that means no money to pay bills.'
CNN
12-04-2025
- Business
- CNN
145% tariffs on China are clobbering the toy industry
Toys made in China have been exempt from tariffs since President Donald Trump's first term. That is no longer the case. Last month, Trump raised tariff rates on China to 20%, dealing a big blow to the toy industry. But he didn't stop there. Just a few weeks later, Trump was set to tack on an additional 34% 'reciprocal' tariff. Then he tacked on another tariff, and another, and another. Now, goods from China are being tariffed at a whopping 145% rate — and that number will likely keep growing as Beijing vows to continue retaliating against new tariffs and Trump threatens to do the same. For American families, this means relatively inexpensive toys could become luxuries. That's because nearly 80% of all toys sold in the US are manufactured in China, according to the Toy Association, a leading industry group. 'We have no choice but to increase our prices by high double digits,' said Isaac Larian, CEO of California-based MGA Entertainment, which makes Bratz and L.O.L. Surprise! Dolls, among several other toys. 'The life of my business, 46 years, is on the line.' Trump said that one of his main impetuses for enacting higher tariffs is to bring manufacturing jobs back to the US. Yet Larian said China's 125% retaliatory tariffs on US exports are going to force him to lay off American workers at his Hudson, Ohio, factory, which has around 700 employees in total. That's because many goods manufactured there are shipped to China. While the majority of MGA's production remains in China, its Ohio factory produces much of its Little Tikes line of goods, including toy cars and sandboxes. The facility could manufacture more toys, but Americans 'do not want to work in factories,' he said. Even if finding more workers weren't an issue, it would still cost more for the US factory to manufacture the toys that are currently being produced in China, even with the current tariffs in place, he said. Moreover, it's particularly challenging to source the raw materials needed to make doll hair domestically. 'There is no American factory anywhere that can make hair for dolls. What am I supposed to do? Sell bald dolls?' Larian said. Larian's reasons for sticking with China are not unique. While many industries, including ones that were also previously exempt from Chinese tariffs, have shifted much of their production away from China, it has remained — by far — the top source of foreign-produced toys sent to the US. Of the nearly $17.7 billion worth of toys the US imported last year, 75%, or $13.4 billion worth, came from China, according to US Commerce Department data. 'This goes back to the '80s and early '90s' when companies were scouting out lower-cost destinations to manufacture toys, said Greg Ahearn, president and CEO of The Toy Association. China has much lower labor rates compared to many other parts of the world, which has helped keep costs down for making toys and lowered prices for consumers, Ahearn told CNN. And, even with recent technological upgrades, toy production still involves hand labor, he said — for instance, painting doll faces and action figures. Furthermore, many toy manufacturers are considered small businesses. It's much easier for them to tap in to the existing infrastructure in China than to build factories in the US from scratch, he said. 'There is no alternative in the short run. Yes, there is manufacturing that is done here in the US, but those are mainly things that can be highly automated,' said Ahearn, who previously was the chief marketing officer at Toy 'R' Us. Jay Foreman, CEO of Basic Fun!, a toy company that makes Care Bears and Tonka trucks, told CNN in a February interview right after Trump enacted a 20% tariff on China that his entire supply chain is in China. 'Our tooling, our factory base, the consistency of production — and how do you just up and leave and go to another market?' Foreman said. 'There are things you aren't able to make (in the US) physically, or produce here, and toys are one of those.' Speaking with CNN again after the 145% tariffs were enacted, he said: 'The situation… has gone from a problem to a crisis for Basic Fun! and our entire industry. This threatens not only the price and amount of toys that will be in the market, but the actual survival of our industry.' It's a situation many toy companies are confronting, especially now when they'd otherwise place holiday season orders. The loss of revenue means several 'may not be able to stay in business,' Ahearn told CNN. Basic Fun! has paused all toy shipments, putting itself in a potentially dire situation. 'We cannot afford to take the risk of not knowing what the tariff will be when the goods land,' Foreman said. But at the same time, he said, 'if we have no product, we have no cash flow, and that means no money to pay bills.'
CNN
12-04-2025
- Business
- CNN
145% tariffs on China are clobbering the toy industry
Toys made in China have been exempt from tariffs since President Donald Trump's first term. That is no longer the case. Last month, Trump raised tariff rates on China to 20%, dealing a big blow to the toy industry. But he didn't stop there. Just a few weeks later, Trump was set to tack on an additional 34% 'reciprocal' tariff. Then he tacked on another tariff, and another, and another. Now, goods from China are being tariffed at a whopping 145% rate — and that number will likely keep growing as Beijing vows to continue retaliating against new tariffs and Trump threatens to do the same. For American families, this means relatively inexpensive toys could become luxuries. That's because nearly 80% of all toys sold in the US are manufactured in China, according to the Toy Association, a leading industry group. 'We have no choice but to increase our prices by high double digits,' said Isaac Larian, CEO of California-based MGA Entertainment, which makes Bratz and L.O.L. Surprise! Dolls, among several other toys. 'The life of my business, 46 years, is on the line.' Trump said that one of his main impetuses for enacting higher tariffs is to bring manufacturing jobs back to the US. Yet Larian said China's 125% retaliatory tariffs on US exports are going to force him to lay off American workers at his Hudson, Ohio, factory, which has around 700 employees in total. That's because many goods manufactured there are shipped to China. While the majority of MGA's production remains in China, its Ohio factory produces much of its Little Tikes line of goods, including toy cars and sandboxes. The facility could manufacture more toys, but Americans 'do not want to work in factories,' he said. Even if finding more workers weren't an issue, it would still cost more for the US factory to manufacture the toys that are currently being produced in China, even with the current tariffs in place, he said. Moreover, it's particularly challenging to source the raw materials needed to make doll hair domestically. 'There is no American factory anywhere that can make hair for dolls. What am I supposed to do? Sell bald dolls?' Larian said. Larian's reasons for sticking with China are not unique. While many industries, including ones that were also previously exempt from Chinese tariffs, have shifted much of their production away from China, it has remained — by far — the top source of foreign-produced toys sent to the US. Of the nearly $17.7 billion worth of toys the US imported last year, 75%, or $13.4 billion worth, came from China, according to US Commerce Department data. 'This goes back to the '80s and early '90s' when companies were scouting out lower-cost destinations to manufacture toys, said Greg Ahearn, president and CEO of The Toy Association. China has much lower labor rates compared to many other parts of the world, which has helped keep costs down for making toys and lowered prices for consumers, Ahearn told CNN. And, even with recent technological upgrades, toy production still involves hand labor, he said — for instance, painting doll faces and action figures. Furthermore, many toy manufacturers are considered small businesses. It's much easier for them to tap in to the existing infrastructure in China than to build factories in the US from scratch, he said. 'There is no alternative in the short run. Yes, there is manufacturing that is done here in the US, but those are mainly things that can be highly automated,' said Ahearn, who previously was the chief marketing officer at Toy 'R' Us. Jay Foreman, CEO of Basic Fun!, a toy company that makes Care Bears and Tonka trucks, told CNN in a February interview right after Trump enacted a 20% tariff on China that his entire supply chain is in China. 'Our tooling, our factory base, the consistency of production — and how do you just up and leave and go to another market?' Foreman said. 'There are things you aren't able to make (in the US) physically, or produce here, and toys are one of those.' Speaking with CNN again after the 145% tariffs were enacted, he said: 'The situation… has gone from a problem to a crisis for Basic Fun! and our entire industry. This threatens not only the price and amount of toys that will be in the market, but the actual survival of our industry.' It's a situation many toy companies are confronting, especially now when they'd otherwise place holiday season orders. The loss of revenue means several 'may not be able to stay in business,' Ahearn told CNN. Basic Fun! has paused all toy shipments, putting itself in a potentially dire situation. 'We cannot afford to take the risk of not knowing what the tariff will be when the goods land,' Foreman said. But at the same time, he said, 'if we have no product, we have no cash flow, and that means no money to pay bills.'
