Facing financial difficulties, the Los Angeles Railway was sold off to a subsidiary of National City Lines, a holding company that was purchasing transit systems across the country.Associated Press, “Chicago Firm Buys L. A. Streetcar Line”, The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Wednesday 6 December 1944, Volume 51, page 5. National City Lines, which had major investments from Firestone Tire, Standard Oil of California (now Chevron Corporation) and General Motors, which began to dismantle the electric Yellow Car system, in favor of rubber-tired, diesel-powered buses (of which GM was a manufacturer) in what has become known as the General Motors streetcar conspiracy. In 1953, Pacific Electric passenger services were sold to another subsidiary of National City Lines. Alternate Link via ProQuest.
