Energy Storage & Manufacturing Investment: Vikram Solar signed an MoU with Tamil Nadu to build a BESS manufacturing facility in Tirunelveli’s SIPCOT park, investing INR 15,037 crore and targeting 2,670 jobs, adding to its existing solar PV footprint. Solar Supply Chain Compliance: India’s MNRE extended the BIS self-certification deadline for solar PV inverters above 200 kW to Dec 31, 2026, citing limited testing capacity. EV Battery Circularity: LICO Materials and Ather Energy plan an end-of-life lithium-ion battery collection and recycling system in Karnataka to recover critical materials for the EV supply chain. Automotive Industrial Policy: India operationalised UK CETA automotive import rules via DGFT, enabling concessional-duty imports under TRQs for up to 20,000 UK-built ICE passenger cars in year one. Regional Manufacturing Outlook: Malaysia’s IPI/manufacturing growth outlook stays cautious as input costs ease but remain elevated, with inventory frontloading expected to unwind. Industrial Safety Incident: An ammonia gas leak at an ice factory in Menglembu, Perak was contained after Hazmat teams closed the valve and controlled a ~7-litre spill; no victims reported. Materials & Mobility: Peak Energy says it’s building the first US commercial-scale sodium-ion battery pack factory in Sacramento for grid and data-center storage, with early 2027 rollout planned. Automotive Market Moves: Nissan Tekton pricing in major Indian cities ranges from Rs 11.96 lakh to Rs 23.06 lakh on-road, as the badge-engineered Duster-based SUV returns to the midsize segment.