New Delhi, Oct. 17 -- Today's orthodoxy within the Indian PV market demands the dominance of the SUV. As utility vehicles now account for more than 50 per cent of overall PV sales in FY24, the sedan, which was once a symbol of aspirational mobility, is headed to the archives. But one intransigent structural niche, the subcompact sedan segment, holds firm, retaining a tiny but vital proportion of PV market volume, still clinging to 7 per cent to 8 per cent.

This sustained timeliness is not coincidental; it is an intentional result fueled by two fundamental pillars: fiscal policy and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). The Maruti Suzuki Dzire, the undisputed champion with an aggressive 61 per cent market share in the entry-sedan space, merely p...