Is Telsa, never mind Buick and VW not at least some evidence that they have?

I have no opinion.

That's why I asked topicseed, accepting her/his argument that emerging markets need protection, when (and if) China should open up.

But apparently topicseed hasn't updated her/his thesis since 2005.

As for Tesla in China, I dimly recall that it's in partnership. SOP for BRICS economies. Quick search... Nope. I was wrong. This 2018 article states Tesla is the first foreign company allowed to operate in China without a domestic partner. https://money.cnn.com/2018/07/10/news/companies/tesla-china-...

Now I'm almost curious if there have been others since.

No, unless and until there is a domestic chinese Luxury Car maker of note. This is the exception which proves the rule. They don't make directly competing products; so these come in. Watch what happens when they do.