Summary: Sales of passenger vehicles set a fresh record last year with more than 3.8 million units rolling out of showrooms. And out of it, the share of SUVs was over 42%. The mightier SUV overtook its humble rival, the hatchback, for the first time in 2022. The just-concluded auto expo in Greater Noida also reflected the mood on the streets. So why have SUVs become the first choice of most Indian families? While India’s auto sales reflected the country’s booming economy, those of Pakistan’s revealed a lot about its uncertain future. Car sales in Pakistan dropped by 51% in Q1FY23. An IMF report also said this week that Pakistan is South Asia’s weakest economy. Amid this turmoil, the country’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has stepped up overtures to India. In a recent interview, Sharif has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to come to the table for talks. How should India respond? Meanwhile, India continued to make big strides toward a better future. The government recently approved the green hydrogen mission with an initial outlay of Rs 19,744 crore to fast-track India’s transition to clean energy. The green hydrogen focus has encouraged participation from India’s largest corporate houses. So which related stocks should be on your radar? From Mumbai's bustling financial markets, let us shift our focus to the serene hills of Uttarakhand. A small town in the hill state, Joshimath, was struck by a tragedy this month. The hill under it is subsiding and residents are being relocated. Joshimath also serves as the gateway to Badrinath -- one of the four pilgrimages in Char Dham yatra. This episode of the podcast tells about this pilgrimage and more.
