New Delhi, June 5 -- Once the key driver of India's auto boom, sales of entry-level cars are sputtering. In fact, India's largest car maker, Maruti Suzuki, has sought government help to revive sales in the budget segment. Can such incentives reverse the trend? And does Japan hold any lessons?

Also read: Stuck in first gear: Take a close look at what ails car sales in India

What does entry-level car sales data show?

According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam), domestic sales in the mini segment (cars up to 3.6-metres in length) fell from 460,772 in FY19 to 152,262 in FY24 and 133,397 in FY25, a staggering 71% drop in the last six years. India's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki, also the segment's dominant player, sa...