VinFast will no longer operate at the former Holden proving grounds in Australia, located east of Melbourne, also known as the Lang Lang Proving Grounds. VinFast will subsequently sell the facility following the termination of operations there.
Vinfast VF32
Per a recent report from CarExpert, which cites anonymous insiders at the facility, VinFast has notified staff that it will be closing the proving grounds by the end of September. The grounds will be maintained by a “skeleton crew” until VinFast finds a buyer.
The closure of the former Holden proving grounds follows its acquisition by VinFast just one year prior. The Vietnamese startup purchased the Lang Lang Proving Grounds in September of 2020, at which time it was set to develop new vehicles there for sale in the Asia-Pacific region, including both internal-combustion vehicles, and electric vehicles.
Holden Commodore
As GM Authority reported in February of 2020, GM announced it would retire the Holden brand in Australia and New Zealand. GM Authority was also the first to report on GMSV (GM Special Vehicles) trademark filing which confirmed GMSV as the replacement brand for General Motors in the region.
The Lang Lang providing Grounds are massive, encompassing some 2,155 acres. The grounds, previously owned by General Motors Holden, were used to develop a broad range of Holden vehicles. VinFast reportedly acquired the facility in a deal worth more than AU$35 million (roughly $25.4 million at current exchange rates).
According to CarExpert, VinFast deleted the majority of its Australian operations in May, with local operations head Kevin Yardley, a former Holden executive, also stepping down at that time. VinFast indicated it would retain the Lang Lang Proving Grounds and engineering operations going forward. Now, however, that no longer seems to be the case.
Following announcement of VinFast’s acquisition of the Lang Lang facility, it was believed that it would remain open to enthusiasts for track days. GM also reportedly secured rights to use the facility in development of its latest GMSV line of vehicles.
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Comments
Can’t do any work between testing & head office when the borders are closed.
Vinfast gives up this ex-GM facility and picks up another ex-GM: Michael Lohscheller, who was CFO of Opel under GM ownership, and shortly after GM sold Opel to PSA in 2017, CEO of Opel as successor of K.T. Neumann.
Starting September 1st, 2021, Lohscheller is CEO of Vinfast, tasked with the international expansion of this vietnamese automobile maker.