GWM signs deal to “Aussify” its vehicles at Lang Lang

Chinese automaker GWM has secured a permanent position at the formerly Holden-owned Lang Lang proving ground, where its staff – including former Holden engineering wizard Rob Trubiani – will hone future Havals, Cannons, Tanks and Oras for the Australian market.

The Lang Lang proving ground, which has been owned by Vietnamese car manufacturer VinFast since 2020, sits on 877 hectares in Victoria’s Gippsland region and incorporates 44km of challenging roads and surfaces, both sealed and unsealed, for car testing and evaluation – as well as several test tracks and skid pans.

Built in 1957 by Holden as a suspension and durability testing facility, its scope has since expanded to test and calibrate critical electronic systems like traction control, stability control, and all manner of driving aids like autonomous emergency braking, lane assist, blind spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control.

It should prove critical to GWM’s efforts to iron out flaws in its models before they enter the market.

GWM, like many Chinese automakers, has drawn criticism for launching cars with ride handling characteristics unsuited to Australian roads, as well as poorly-calibrated driver aids and active safety systems.

It’s ability to fully utilise Lang Lang’s facilities should see the end of those flaws, especially with seasoned engineering veteran Rob Trubiani at the helm of that engineering effort.

Does that name sound familiar? Trubiani was the man who steered a VF ute to claim a commercial vehicle lap record at another notable test track: the Nürburgring.

“With the whole discussion about where we’re taking our brands and our name plates, one of them is how we’re going to localise them,” GWM Australia chief operating officer John Kett said.

“So, I think we made a significant gain in terms of the access that we have to Lang Lang, in terms of our residency there.”

GWM’s deal with VinFast makes it the only car manufacturer to have permanent residency at Lang Lang and was kicked off when Trubiani joined GWM earlier this year.

“When Rob presented the idea of establishing Lang Lang as our home base for local development, it was met with overwhelming support, both locally and from our global leadership,” Kett said.

“Rob has been relentless in defining what the true GWM feel should be for our markets, and with the right tools now in place, we’re confident this investment will deliver improved products right here on home soil.”

It could also pay dividends for GWM vehicles destined for other markets too, and even feed into cars developed for the company’s home market of China.

“We’ve had incredible support from our Chinese colleagues,” Kett added.

“They’ve sent their senior engineers over, they’ve got engaged and realised they’re working with someone who actually truly understands what’s required and is starting to believe that many of these tunes, many of the recalibrations, actually could be used globally. “I think the story will be a positive one for the evolution of our company and certainly our brand.”

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