Holden’s former proving ground open for business

At the same time as it has shut its technical centre in Port Melbourne at the cost of around 90 jobs, Vietnamese automotive start-up VinFast has started promoting the facilities at its Lang Lang proving ground.

VinFast set up in Port Melbourne in December 2019 and purchased Lang Lang from General Motors in September 2020 for a reputed $30 million.

VinFast shut the Port Melbourne facility in May, blaming the COVID pandemic. Most staff were ex-Holden engineers who had gone through a similar retrenchment when GM shut down local manufacturing in 2017 and then the brand altogether in 2020.

The closure came after Australian Kevin Yardley resigned from the company. The former Holden engineer had been integral to the establishment of ATI 2 – as Port Melbourne was known – as well as the purchase of Lang Lang.

VinFast has always made clear that even its ambitious model development and launch program would not be enough to keep Lang Lang going full-time and it has launched a slick website to promote its facilities, llpg.com.au, to potential customers.

So far VinFast has revealed three models including the VF e34, confirmed two more small EVs are on the way (the VF e32 and e33) and previewed a bunch more future models including a ute.

Of most interest to car-spotters on the Lang Lang website are photos of a disguised VinFast VF e34 electric hatch posed in various parts of the facility including the 4.7km four-lane high-speed bowl, a handling road and a control surface rough road aligned to GM global standards.

A test mule – no, it’s not a ute – fitted with road-load measuring wheels is shown driving over a speed hump.

An orthodox BMW X5-based Lux SA 2.0 also makes an appearance undergoing an emissions test.

Service and capabilities touted by the Lang Lang website include a vehicle test laboratory, calibration, vehicle durability testing, vehicle performance testing and advanced driver assist systems testing.

Further services on offer include product launches, media events and on-site or off-property drive days.

First established in 1957, the Lang Lang site has previously hosted Holden vehicle launches, as well as automotive media Car of the Year judging and comparison road tests and even competitive events such as tarmac rallies.

Facilities on the 877-hectare property include a 44km road system – 22km sealed, 15km unsealed, plus several specific-usage roads – as well as a vehicle test laboratory, durability tracks including rough tracks,  test hills, a 5km hill route and a 4WD track.

carsales reached out to the proving ground’s director Jeremy Tassone for comment, but the former Holden man declined, stating no media interviews were currently permitted by VinFast.