Energy Security & Costs: Germany confirmed plans for a strategic gas reserve equal to 10% of storage capacity, to be filled in 2027-28, costing €1.5bn to set up and up to €310m a year to maintain, funded via consumer levies—expected to add about €42 annually to household energy bills and weigh on energy-intensive industry. EV & Industrial Policy: Tesla says it will ramp up production at its Grünheide plant near Berlin in 2026, targeting higher output and more than 3,500 new jobs as it expands battery-related capacity. EU Finance for Transition: The EIB approved €17.4bn to strengthen Europe’s energy security, including grid upgrades and renewables support across Germany, plus nuclear and solar projects elsewhere in the EU and beyond. German Industry Pushback on ETS: Salzgitter CEO Gunnar Groebler criticised EU plans to relax emissions trading rules, warning they could undermine green-steel investment and penalise early movers. Digital Euro Progress: The ECB digital euro pilot is expanding, with 36 payment service providers selected across 19 central banks, including German-linked participants. Auto Market Pressure in China: BMW warned China sales fell sharply and faces a faster-moving EV race, highlighting the challenge for German premium carmakers in the world’s biggest EV market.