Auto Sales Momentum: India’s passenger vehicle market jumped 36% in August to 448,319 units as automakers built dealer inventory ahead of the festive season, with Maruti Suzuki leading on 176,971 vehicles (+35% YoY). EV Policy Shift: The EV tax holiday is ending, and buyers are rushing to lock in deals before incentives fade. Recall Watch: Ford recalled nearly 149,000 Mustangs (2024-2026) over engine-compartment wiring issues tied to heat-shrink wrap that can break ground connections and disable systems. Dealer & Aftermarket Tech: Del-One Federal Credit Union is using an AI document assistant to nearly double indirect auto-lending output without adding staff. Battery Manufacturing: CORNEX started production at a 70GWh lithium battery “super factory” in Xiangyang, targeting nearly 400,000 cells daily and 30B yuan annual output. Industry Demand Drivers: China’s commodity-consumption plan puts autos at the top, pushing reforms in auto circulation and usage management to expand retail growth. Safety & Infrastructure: Wildfire officials warn off-roading without spark arrestors can spark new blazes, with fines and jail for violations.