Volkswagen Restructuring Pressure: VW’s H1 net profit fell 31% to €3.1bn and it cut its 2026 revenue outlook, citing tariffs and tougher competition; management is weighing deeper cost cuts, with job reductions and plant closures back on the table. EV Market Shift: June registrations show electrified demand rising, with BEVs at 28.3% and Chinese brands nearly doubling share; Tesla’s Model Y led BEVs as BYD, Leapmotor and XPeng expand line-ups. Mercedes Regulation Prep: Mercedes says all its cars sold in India since January are E25-compliant to “future-proof” against ethanol fuel rules, even though E25 isn’t yet standard in Europe. Hydrogen vs Battery Trucks: Germany’s hydrogen truck programme drew 526 applications for €455m from a €220m pool, but critics note federal support is effectively steering buyers toward hydrogen while battery-electric freight lacks comparable purchase subsidies. AI for Climate Reporting: CDP added AI-assisted “Suggested Response” to speed emissions disclosures, cutting prep time by ~40% and lifting response rates. Germany’s Football Economy Moment: Jürgen Klopp was appointed Germany head coach through the 2030 World Cup, with a backroom team including Pep Lijnders and Per Mertesacker taking sport leadership roles.