Volkswagen in schools: Pupils at Tudor Grange Perdiswell turned a donated VW into a space-themed sculpture for “Star the Car,” using Artemis II inspiration to build teamwork and creativity. Battery pivot: GM is moving sodium-ion tech into grid-scale energy storage via Peak Energy, while Ford also shifts focus from EV batteries to grid storage. India supplier push: PPAP Automotive partnered with Hutchinson to build advanced body sealing systems in India for passenger vehicles. Recall watch (Ford): Ford recalled 548,463 2018-2024 Expedition vehicles over center-console chrome trim that can bubble/peel into sharp edges. Recall watch (Honda): Honda faces another large U.S. recall over a defective tire kit, while separate reports cite wheels/subframe rust issues. Motorsport: BMW took Le Mans Hypercar pole after Cadillac’s pitlane infringement/penalty reshuffled the grid. Market update: Motus expects South Africa’s vehicle market to top 600,000 units again, boosting profit outlook. Tech/production: Zento Trilium expanded precision metal stamping and fabrication for automotive and other high-precision industries. Safety/local incidents: A serious U.S. 54 crash injured a woman in a rear-end collision involving a Toyota RAV4.