In this week’s wrapup, we wrote about Volkswagen’s financial struggles, the risks Starlink brings in India, India’s ship-building ambitions, Shaktikanta Das’ irreplaceability at the RBI and last but not least, Thomas Piketty’s plausible remedy to global inequality.

And for this week’s markets edition, we looked at what's brewing in India's EV landscape, with Tata Motors leading the charge. The story covers how the Tata Group is driving the EV revolution with a strategy spanning from batteries to charging infrastructure. But with rising competition and supply chain issues, is it enough? We break down some numbers to answer this and also see what it means for India's EV sector. Click here to read the full markets story.

Why is Volkswagen having a rough ride?

In 2017, Volkswagen (VW) overtook Toyota to become the world’s biggest carmaker.

But today, it has gone on to become one of the most indebted listed companies in the world!

Its profits have plunged by 20% in the first nine months of 2024 compared to last year. And now, it’s even weighing a drastic move to shut down three factories in Germany, its home turf. This could impact tens of thousands of jobs, especially since VW is the country’s largest employer.

So, how did VW go from being the world’s top automaker to facing a crisis?

That’s what we explored in Monday’s newsletter. You can read it here.

Starlink is eager to start offering its satellite internet services here in India.

And guess what?

It has agreed to abide by all the rules and regulations set forth by the government of India.

But is it wise to extend a licence to Elon Musk’s company to set up shop here?

In our Tuesday story, we explored Starlink’s potential risks, particularly because of its parent company’s close ties with the US intelligence agencies.

Check it out here.

India wants more ships and it's got a plan!

India wants to make waves in shipbuilding and repairs, and it wants to climb from its current 20th rank to the top 10 by 2030.

And guess what, it has chalked out a blueprint! It wants to improve shipbuilders’ access to capital, upgrade ports and partner with top shipbuilding nations. And with all of that, it could unlock a ₹20 lakh crore market by 2047.

But can we actually get there?

Get the detailed scoop in Wednesday’s story here.

The secret behind Shaktikanta Das' unmatched RBI streak

Every three years, a selection committee led by the Prime Minister picks the next RBI Governor.

This year though the government hasn’t even formed a selection committee yet. And with the current RBI Governor, Shaktikanta Das, set to finish his term in less than a month, there’s no buzz about a potential successor. This is naturally fanning rumours about Das just sticking around for another term.

And that made us wonder ― What makes Das so special that the government hasn’t lined up a successor yet?

If that thought crossed your mind too, check out our Thursday newsletter, where we tried to reason out why.

Is global inequality a deliberate choice?

People in the poorest countries of Sub-Saharan Africa earn just one-fifteenth of what their counterparts make in North America!

But here’s the good news. One French economist believes that this widening gap between the rich and the poor can be bridged.

We can reduce global inequality by taxing the wealthy more generously and investing heavily in public services like health and education.

However, there is also a downside to this seemingly perfect solution.

Check out our Friday newsletter for possible approaches to addressing global inequality and the dilemmas it comes with.

Finshots Weekly Quiz 🧩

Here’s your chance to win some exclusive Finshots merch. All you have to do is click on this 👉🏽 link, answer all the questions correctly by 12 noon on November 30, 2024 (Saturday) and tune in to our Sunday newsletter aka Sunny Side Up next week to check if you got lucky.

That’s it from us this week. Have a great weekend!

Liked this wrapup? Don’t forget to share it on WhatsApp, LinkedIn and X.

🚨ATTENTION: FINSHOTS FAMILY

We’re hosting a FREE webinar on one of the most important financial topics — HEALTH INSURANCE!

What will it cover?

  • How to plan health insurance for all age groups
  • Corporate health plans vs. personal health plans: Which works best?
  • Why it’s smarter to start health insurance early
  • Getting married or having kids? Discover why health coverage matters!

LIMITED SLOTS AVAILABLE! Click here to Register Now.