Eh, don't care. A sane person would've pick something well established, like a Tata Nexon, a Mahindra XUV400EV or a Citroen eC3. Or in premium segments, a Hyundai Ioniq 5, a KIA EV6 or those BMW cars whose names I don't remember. Only rich, entitled ancap brats in India would buy something as expensive and proprietary as a Tesla.
Were they available to order in 2016?
Not these specific cars, but there were plenty under Mahindra. e20, e20 Plus, Mahindra (Dacia) Logan, REVAi, Tata Indica Vista EV. There wasn't a lot of choices in design and utility, like cross, hatchback or SUVs, but there were options. Honestly, the infrastructure was non-existent back then, and is still not that great for cars, so people opt for either the CNG or hybrid models if they want to go the eco-friendly route, but if we are talking about electric two-wheelers, then yes, they're doing really well in the market.
Hell, even BYD
Oh yes, they're also available, but owing to the China-maal (China-stuff) sentiment, which is the Indian equivalent of Chinesium, propagated and fueled by the western media, I'm not sure if expensive products like cars will be well-received.
However if local companies step in for a partnership, like for example the Tata-Chery venture, then they would have easy entry in the market. BYD was temporarily associated with Megha Engineering, who were involved in huge cases of corruption, so there's that too.
I don't know who the current partner of BYD is (OHM E Logistics?), but as long as they can stay away from NDA-associated corrupt companies, they could probably do well.
Agreed I have been seeing BYDs in the national capital these days, they are surprisingly more common than I would think. Some cursory analysis suggests people aren't aware it is Chinese, like with MG Motors (Morris Garages) which are in a JV with Jindal. They research electric vehicles to buy and don't realise/care for the origin sometimes. I hope this happens though.
Chinesium
also did not know chinesium was a proper term, thanks!
the new rich in China and India who fork over thousands for Gucci Louis Vuitton Exploding Meme Car
After the mayocide is finished, these idiots are next
Mayocide?
mayocide
Genocide of "mayos" - a term for white people.
It's not really used seriously.
If anyone's been to india they will know that self driving cars in india are simply not possible.
I'm surprised more Native Americans aren't up in arms.
(/s because most people don't get sarcasm)
It's more that sarcasm does not translate through text
More so that it wasn't funny regardless of whether or not we got the joke.
Sarcasm done right translates just fine via written text.
That's the kind of mentality that leads to misunderstandings. You cannot translate tone through a written medium, that's why emojis and the /s even exist in the first place
Sarcasm?
Yes, ofc about your joke and don't really have an opinion on it, but I am absolutely of the opinion that sarcasm is not compatible with text. What makes sense to you on writing is primed to be readan entirely different way by someone else based on their texting habits and even their current mood, that's why I think the /s is necessary
It's funny because "Red Indians" was used by colonial settlers to describe a broad range of people and tribes conquered and subsequently had their culture and families completely demolished by the invading forces. And we still refer to them as "Indians" in education and literature regardless of their preferred preferences!
/s