BMW Manufacturing Push: BMW has completed a $1.7B South Carolina investment and will assemble the first fully electric X5 in the US at Spartanburg, with production starting late 2026 and five drivetrain options at the plant. Hyundai Tech & Industry Moves: Hyundai Rotem reorganized its aerospace/defense and robot/hydrogen units to better bid on projects, while HD Hyundai Electric signed a framework deal worth up to 1.12T won for data-center power and distribution equipment. Sales & Demand Signals: Hybrid demand is lifting Toyota and Hyundai in the US, while GM’s Q2 vehicle sales slipped as EV demand cooled; in India, Honda Cars reported strong June growth driven by a big export jump. Volkswagen Reality Check: VW’s leadership warned its old business model “no longer works today,” pointing to shrinking volumes, intense competition, and costly tariffs as it prepares major job cuts. Safety & Recalls: South Africa’s auto industry launched a year-long campaign to replace about 1.7M defective airbags, aiming to reach owners missed by earlier recalls. Privacy Crackdown: The FTC won a court order against Kochava barring the sale or sharing of sensitive location data without affirmative consent. Motorsport Spotlight: Mercedes’ George Russell took pole for Barcelona, while Kimi Antonelli grabbed Monaco pole in a “magic lap,” keeping Mercedes on top.