The world's coal addiction got a little worse

Our goal with The Daily Brief is to simplify the biggest stories in the Indian markets and help you understand what they mean. We won’t just tell you what happened, but why and how too. We do this show in both formats: video and audio. This piece curates the stories that we talk about.?

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In today’s episode, we look at 2 big stories:

• Are people only buying SUVs?
• The world's coal addiction got a little worse?

Are people only buying SUVs?

Maruti Suzuki, a long-standing market leader in India’s passenger vehicle segment, continues to assert its dominance with a 40% market share, significantly ahead of Hyundai, which holds 14%. Their latest earnings report reveals a robust financial performance, showcasing a 10% year-on-year increase in revenue and a remarkable 47% rise in net profits.?

Source: Tijori

Notably, despite only a 5% growth in sales, profits surged ahead, indicating efficient cost management and perhaps higher margin product sales.

1. Maruti Suzuki experienced significant growth in export markets, with notable success in the Middle East and Latin America. The Jimny, a utility vehicle, emerged as their largest exported model in Q1, reflecting its international appeal and the company’s strategic focus on expanding its global footprint.

Source: Maruti Results

1. We've previously discussed the increasing focus on CNG vehicles, especially in the context of Bajaj's plans. Maruti Suzuki's latest results highlight this trend further:
2. This shift is largely driven by rising fuel costs and environmental concerns, making CNG a more economical and eco-friendly option for consumers.
3. Maruti’s utility vehicle segment, which includes models like the Ertiga and Jimny, saw a substantial 30% growth this quarter. This indicates a growing preference for larger, more versatile, and comfortable vehicles among consumers.

Source: Maruti Results

1. Facing tough market conditions and the impact of heatwaves, Maruti Suzuki increased their discounts to attract customers. The average discount per vehicle in Q1 FY25 rose to ?21,700 from ?14,500 in the previous quarter. This strategic move seems to have paid off, helping to maintain sales momentum.
2. Interestingly, the rural market outperformed the urban market during this period. Factors such as higher agricultural income, government initiatives, and improved rural infrastructure likely contributed to this trend.

Like many in the automotive industry, Maruti Suzuki is also jumping on the EV bandwagon. They announced plans to launch their first EV in January 2025, with a goal to roll out six EV models by 2031. This move aligns with the global shift towards sustainable and eco-friendly transportation solutions.

Maruti Suzuki's strong performance and strategic initiatives underscore their commitment to maintaining market leadership and adapting to evolving consumer preferences. Their focus on expanding export markets, promoting CNG vehicles, and entering the EV space positions them well for future growth in a dynamic automotive landscape.

The world's coal addiction got a little worse?

In 2023, the world will hit a peculiar milestone. We generated a record amount of electricity globally from coal, yet managed to reduce coal's share in the world's power mix from 35.7% to 35.4%. This reduction might seem minor in absolute terms, but it's a significant indicator that the world is starting to acknowledge climate change and is making moves to address it.

Today, I want to delve into this global shift from coal.

There are numerous reasons for the world's transition away from coal, but two key factors stand out:

1. Coal produces the most carbon dioxide per unit of energy compared to other fossil fuels. This is extremely harsh on the environment. In 2021, coal-fired power plants were responsible for more than 20% of total global greenhouse gas emissions. If we are to prevent the total collapse of our planet and possibly humanity, eliminating coal-based power is non-negotiable.
2. Air pollution, significantly driven by coal-based power plants, kills one in 10 people. Transitioning away from coal could save millions of lives and increase economic productivity by maintaining a healthier population.

Developed countries have made notable strides in reducing coal usage. In just one year, the US saw coal generation fall by 19%, and the EU experienced a 25% drop. This decline is largely attributed to the rise of renewable energy sources like wind and solar, improvements in energy efficiency, and other technological advancements.

However, the story is quite different in developing nations. In 2023, China, the world's largest coal consumer, increased its coal-fired generation by 5.9%. India, Vietnam, and Mexico also saw significant increases. The primary reason? Severe heatwaves and uneven monsoons, exacerbated by climate change, affected hydropower generation, a crucial part of these countries' energy mix. As a result, they had to substitute the lost hydropower with coal-generated electricity.

Under normal circumstances, the addition of clean energy in 2023 would have reduced fossil fuel generation. However, the shortfall in hydropower led to an increase in coal generation, causing a 1% rise in global power sector emissions. Notably, 95% of the rise in coal generation occurred in four countries severely impacted by droughts: China, India, Vietnam, and Mexico.

Source: IEA

Interestingly, despite being the largest consumer of coal, China is also a global leader in renewable energy deployment, from electric vehicles to solar power. India, too, has set ambitious targets for clean energy growth in the coming years, following China's example.

Source: Our World In Data

The main discussion isn't about whether countries like India and China can transition away from coal, but how quickly this can be achieved without compromising their development goals. Transitioning from a source that constitutes a third of the global energy mix is a monumental task, compounded by significant human and economic costs.

Most developing countries can't transition away from coal simply because they can't afford alternative energy sources. Even if they did, solar and wind alone can't meet all their energy needs. The only viable clean alternative is nuclear energy, which is expensive and has a controversial history due to incidents like Chernobyl and Fukushima. Financing remains the biggest challenge, as poor and developing countries lack access to affordable funding to go green.

Source: IEA

Despite these challenges, the benefits of moving away from coal are immense. Preventing millions of deaths caused by air pollution would not only save lives but also boost economic productivity through a healthier population.

Let's hope we can collectively get our act together and stop harming ourselves and our planet. The shift from coal is not just necessary; it's urgent. With the right support and global cooperation, we can make this transition a reality and secure a healthier, more sustainable future for all.

?Source: Our World In Data