UPDATE: Holden confirms Lang Lang sale to VinFast

By: Alex Affat, Unique Cars magazine

Date: 09.09.2020

The historic Holden proving ground will continue to facilitate automotive R&D, whilst also honouring Holden's heritage and enthusiasts

UPDATE September 9, 2020: Vietnamese automaker VinFast and GM Holden have put ink to paper on a deal which will see VinFast purchase the historic Lang Lang Proving Ground for an undisclosed sum of money.

READ NEXT: WHO IS VINFAST?

As rumours of VinFast's impending acquisition circled over recent months, the Vietnamese car maker reportedly sought to establish Lang Lang as a major development and engineering hub, whilst also tapping into Australia's experienced engineers.

GM-H Interim Chairman and Managing Director Kristian Aquilina stated that: "Lang Lang Proving Ground will continue to shape the global automotive industry".

"Over the past five years, GM has invested in the laboratories and tracks at the site, which will now be well utilised by its new owners".

For many of us, it's a sigh of relief as the future of the iconic test site is finally secured.

For GM though, "this deal hits a sweet spot of a fair sale value, a ready-made facility for VinFast's needs, ongoing employment for departing Holden employees and the preservation of amenity for the community".

"In some ways, it's the end of an era. We pay tribute to the rich automotive history created at the Proving Ground, and the brilliant Holden people who worked there. At the same time, it's genuinely pleasing to know there's a bright future there as well".

Looking forward, VinFast has made it clear that it is committed to the ongoing protection of the local bushland and environment... The company also intends to honour Holden's heritage at the iconic site by allowing access for Holden car clubs and former employee open days".

Under the agreement, the newly-minted GM Specialty Vehicles will continue to utilise the Lang Lang Proving Ground for local testing and engineering of new products.

Original story published August 2020:

As HSV today confirms the impending change in name to GMSV, another piece of Holden history also enters a new chapter.

Since the announcement of Holden’s closure in February, and being spotted on the public market in June; it seems the future has been secured for the historic Lang Lang Proving ground.

According to reports from Drive, a number of candidates – including Lindsay Fox - have lodged bids for the former Holden facility, with the winning bid believed to go to a Vietnamese car company called Vinfast.

The value of the sale has yet to be announced, although Drive understands it to be in excess of $20 million.

Although young, Vinfast is an extremely well-funded company owned by Vingroup, Vietnam’s largest private business with assets totalling $35 billion.

Vinfast has recently moved Down Under to set up an Australian engineering hub, and to make the most of our engineering expertise left in the wake of local manufacturing’s cessation.

Based in Mebourne, Vinfast already employs a number of staff made up of former Holden, Ford and Toyota employees.

CEO of Vinfast is ex-GM executive Jim DeLuca, with a number of other ex-GM staff manning key senior positions; including Director of Design, Dave Lyon; Vice-President of Planning and Program Management, Roy Flecknell; and Engineering Vice President, Kevin Fisher.

Australian Shaun Calvert, another former GM employee, is Vinfast’s Vice President of Manufacturing.

The Vinfast Engineering Australia team intends to be a key hub for future global product development for the fledgling automaker.

Be sure to check back as more details regarding Lang Lang’s future come to light.

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