VinFast aiming for Lang Lang reboot in October

In typical fashion, Vietnamese automotive manufacturer VinFast is not mucking round with its new acquisition, the GM Holden proving ground at Land Lang, Victoria.

Having confirmed this week it has agreed to buy the famous site from GM Holden, it now wants to get in and get operating as soon as October.

VinFast has also revealed plans to hire up to 80 more staff to go along with its new purchase.

Established in 2017 by Vietnam’s richest man, VinFast is in the development fastlane as it expands into international markets.

It plans to have an EV on sale in the USA in 2021 and has its sights set on eventually selling cars in Australia in the right circumstances.

VinFast’s interest in Lang Lang was exclusively reported by carsales last February, when it also revealed it had established an engineering and development office in Port Melbourne and heavily populated it with former Holden engineers.

Those engineers became available to VinFast in the wake of Holden’s shutdown of local manufacturing in 2017. The proving ground came on the market after the Holden brand was axed altogether by General Motors in February.

The Australian boss of VinFast is 25-year Holden veteran Kevin Yardley, who confirmed the company’s start of operation timeline at Lang Lang to carsales.

“This is dependent somewhat on our COVID restrictions that are currently in force in Victoria,” Yardley said via email. “We would hope to commence in October pending the easing of restrictions.

He confirmed VinFast’s recruitment plans as well.

“We plan to ramp up over the next several months as the workload increases, and as we receive test vehicles at the site.

“We anticipate at full ramp-up and we would employ approximately 80 new hires with up to 20 contract drivers and mechanics.”

Yardley made it clear the proving ground would be open to other manufacturers for testing. General Motors has already confirmed GM Specialty Vehicles will gain access to the site.

“Lang Lang testing centre is not only one of the best vehicle testing centres in the world but also a symbol of the global auto industry,” Yardley said.

“In order to grow strong together in this field, we commit to bring more opportunities for businesses and car manufacturers to use the testing centre with us.”